Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during the sixty-fifth Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. President Tinubu was first elected to this position on July 9, 2023, in Guinea-Bissau.
In his acceptance speech, President Tinubu emphasized his commitment to consolidating democratic values and upholding the interests of ECOWAS, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. He outlined his vision for the regional body, focusing on the promotion of democracy and the importance of a collective regional effort.
“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,” President Tinubu stated. “I will continue to serve our interest and build on democratic values and the structure that we inherited. Thank you very much.”
As part of his renewed mandate, President Tinubu announced the appointment of the President of Senegal, His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the President of Togo, His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.
“I have appointed the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to please become our Special Envoy to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic, along with the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, to do around the clock work with our brothers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, and to coordinate with me and the ECOWAS Commission, where necessary,” he explained.
Earlier in the session, President Tinubu called on the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to work towards establishing and maintaining a regional standby force, citing the growing security threats in the region. He stressed the importance of this force for the security and economic advancement of the community.
President Tinubu’s leadership and vision are expected to steer ECOWAS through its next critical phase, focusing on peace, security, and the promotion of democratic governance across West Africa.
