The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, emphasized that unity among member states is crucial for effectively combating insecurity in the region.
In his address commemorating the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS, themed “Strengthening Regional Unity, Peace, and Security,” Touray highlighted the importance of maintaining regional cohesion. He noted that this unity is essential for achieving the peace and security goals established by ECOWAS’s founding fathers.
Touray remarked, “These are goals that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government work to safeguard every day through their efforts to ensure the security of our people and protect the integrity of our territories.”
Reflecting on the establishment of ECOWAS on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, Nigeria, Touray stressed that any fragmentation of the Community would be indefensible to both past and future generations. He cited General Yakubu Gowon, one of ECOWAS’s founders, to underline the critical need for unity.
Touray asserted that despite the ongoing challenges, including terrorism and displacement, ECOWAS has made significant strides in various areas such as free movement of people, intra-community trade, regional energy, and transport infrastructure, as well as governance, peace, and security.
He concluded with a call to action: “We remain convinced that together we can build on these achievements and attain the objectives in our Vision 2050 of a fully integrated Community of peoples in a peaceful and prosperous region with strong institutions that respect fundamental freedoms and work towards inclusive and sustainable development.”
