ECOWAS re-affirms commitment to regional development at 65th ordinary session

This summit, graced by seven heads of state including President Adama Barrow came at a time when the existence of the regional bloc is being question after the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Speaking during the summit, the President of ECOWAS Commission Dr. Omar Touray highlighted the impacts of the withdrawal on the respective countries and their people.

Excellences it is the dire consequence of the withdrawal on the citizens that informed your decision to open dialogue with the three countries with a view to maintaining the unity of our community.

The Gambian ECOWAS chief diplomat says the achievements recorded by the community in the past two years have been overshadowed by various crises including food security, extremism, and terrorismamongst others in the region.

To this effect, the ECOWAS Commission suggested to the heads of authority and government as part of the golden jubilee to organise an extra-ordinary summit to address these crises.

“It is for this reason that the commission is proposing a special extra-ordinary summit on the future of our community,” Dr.Touray said. “The honourable ministers have considered this proposal and instructed that a memorandum be submitted for your consideration.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu began addressing the summit with special recognition to Senegal and Senegalese for a successful general election which saw President Diomaye Faye elected into office.

President Tinubu also highlighted some of the challenges of the region with a specific focus on security.

“We are aware of the enormous challenges including terrorist activities and violent extremism threatening to spread from Sahel region towards the coastal states, especially those who witnessed a constitutional changes of government,” President Tinubu said. “The decision of the three Sahellian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS has also been noticed.”

The ECOWAS Chairman said the Nigerian Counter Terrorism Centreis open to the region for use in their quest to fighting terrorism.

Although ECOWAS is facing numerous challenges, the community pride itself with successful elections held in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo recently.