President Bola Tinubu, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, addressed African leaders on Sunday regarding the status of ECOWAS, highlighting notable achievements and ongoing challenges at the Sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union.
President Tinubu emphasized ECOWAS’s progress in countering terrorism through the activation of a Standby Force and ongoing efforts to explore funding options. He also noted the Community’s support for enhancing electoral and governance processes, citing recent successful election observation missions in Senegal and Togo.
A significant achievement highlighted was the facilitation of the Agreement for National Unity in Sierra Leone. Additionally, consultations are underway to revise the ECOWAS 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
In terms of economic integration, President Tinubu reported on the implementation of activities consolidating the free trade area, customs union, and common market. Support was provided to six Member States for ratifying the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and thirteen Member States ratified the AFCFTA agreement. The ECOWAS interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) is operational in twelve Member States.
On the humanitarian and social development front, President Tinubu disclosed that ECOWAS has allocated $9 million to assist persons of concern, including refugees and internally displaced persons. Additionally, $4 million has been allocated to frontline Member States in the fight against terrorism under the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Humanitarian Response.
The President also underscored efforts in education, health, and energy. Initiatives include the establishment of the West African Network of National Academies of Sciences, the African Forum for Research and Innovation, and the regional Academic Mobility Scheme. In health, ECOWAS continues to support women with obstetric fistula and empower women entrepreneurs in agribusiness.
President Tinubu highlighted advancements in electrification efforts in The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Mali through the ECOWAS-Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOREAP) and the Regional Off Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP).
Progress in environmental issues was also noted, with support provided for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the establishment of a regional carbon market. The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has operationalized the Regional Fund for Agriculture and Food (RFAF) to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production and improve animal health in the Sahel.
The President mentioned significant developments within other ECOWAS institutions, including the election of the first female President of the ECOWAS Parliament and the activities of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice.
Despite these achievements, President Tinubu acknowledged multiple threats facing the bloc, such as member states withdrawing, geopolitical rivalries, terrorism, food insecurity, climate change, and misinformation. He affirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to maintaining unity and addressing these challenges.
On the margins of the AU meeting, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, discussing Nigeria’s leadership role and mutual cooperation.
The Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, initiated in 2017, serves as the main forum for aligning the work of the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and coordinating the implementation of the continental integration agenda. This year’s meeting was held under the AU theme on Education: “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century.”
