The 66th summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially commenced, with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger notably absent after severing ties with the bloc over coup-related sanctions.
The summit, chaired by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, is critical for the region’s political and security stability.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is set to update member nations on his mediation efforts with the three estranged countries.
The agenda focuses on pressing issues such as regional security challenges and member states’ payment of community levies.
Additionally, ministers will address the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which promotes the free movement of people and goods across the region.
Founded in 1975, ECOWAS—currently led by Nigeria—includes member countries such as Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and The Gambia.
The bloc is pivotal in maintaining regional stability, now increasingly threatened by a wave of military coups and security crises. The absence of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger underscores the growing challenge ECOWAS faces in maintaining unity and addressing governance issues in West Africa.
