This Sunday, the presidents of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are meeting in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. The topics discussed will be numerous: the economic situation of the region, security problems and the question of countries led by putschists, some of whom have left the organization.
2 min
With our special correspondent in Abuja, Serge Daniel
The Nigerian President Tinubu Ball should be reappointed as head of the regional organization, but many delegates interviewed said he now needs to provide real leadership to address the many problems. For example, the ECOWAS still does not have the means to set up an anti-terrorist force. The subject will once again be on the discussion table. The President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, will also be in the center of attention for his first summit in Abuja.
The coup d’état file will also be scrutinized. ECOWAS is unable to apply its own texts and is sometimes accused of saying ” Two weights, two measures ” Guinea, a country led by a putschist, is now considered by the organization as “ very frequentable ” because she did ” significant progress “For their part, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have turned their backs on ECOWAS and create a confederation. The subject will still be debated at the summit this Sunday: There are those who do not hesitate to speak of “ Good riddance to the military who want to seize power ” and those who encourage discussion with these juntas.
In 2025, the organization celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. The idea is to organize after this Abuja summit another special summit called the Future Summit so that ECOWAS can find new life. Behind closed doors with the heads of state, the president of the Commission, Omar Alieu Touray will also have to play his part in relaunching a regional organization on which the African Union was banking heavily for the launch of its Continental Free Trade Area.
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