President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This re-election took place at the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria. Tinubu first became the chairman of the regional bloc on July 9, 2023, in Guinea-Bissau.
In his acceptance speech, Tinubu emphasized his commitment to democratic values and regional interests. “I have accepted to continue the service to the great members and the great minds that are committed to democratic values and our journey in the region. I will continue to serve our interests and build on democratic values and the structure that we inherited,” Tinubu said.
He announced the appointment of Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic. “They will work around the clock with our brothers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, and coordinate with me and the ECOWAS Commission where necessary,” he added.
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During the summit’s opening remarks, Tinubu called on ECOWAS member states to make financial contributions to combat terrorism in the region. “As we move to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasize that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources,” he said. He stressed the need for member states to meet the recommendations set by their ministers of defense and finance to counter insecurity and stabilize the region.
ECOWAS has faced challenges with recent coups in member countries such as Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. These nations were taken over by junta leaders, leading ECOWAS to impose sanctions, including border closures. Although these sanctions were lifted in February, the three countries left ECOWAS shortly afterward, forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
During the AES’s first summit in Niamey, Niger’s military leader Abdourahamane Tiani criticized ECOWAS for its failure to address jihadist threats effectively. “Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” Tiani stated. He declared the AES as the only effective sub-regional group in fighting terrorism and accused ECOWAS of being absent in this effort.
Tiani also called for the new bloc to distance itself from foreign influence, particularly from France, the former colonial power. “The AES is a community far removed from the stranglehold of foreign powers,” he asserted.
Tinubu’s re-election comes at a crucial time for ECOWAS, as the region grapples with security challenges and the need for stronger unity among member states. His leadership will be pivotal in addressing these issues and reinforcing the democratic values that ECOWAS stands for.