Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to democratic governance in the sub-region.
It stated this yesterday after the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at the State House in Abuja.
The sub-region which announced the plan to impose sanctions on coup-makers, decried the coup in Guinea Bissau and attempted coup Benin Republic.
It announced plans to end airfare taxes in other to deepen and make air travels in the sub-region affordable.
Nigeria’s eminent businessman Aliko Dangote was appoint head of Business Council.
During the meeting, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who urged the leaders to take decisive and collective action against coups, said the security threats can only be overcome through unity, coordination and a shared sense of responsibility.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said West Africa’s increasingly porous borders make joint action unavoidable, stressing that no single country, regardless of size or capacity, can achieve lasting stability in isolation.
Bio: no alternative to democracy
President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States/ Governments, said there is no alternative to democratic government.
He urged the bloc to rebalance its focus by intensifying economic integration after decades dominated by security challenges.
President Bio said: “We have a strong belief that we will raise this community to meet its mandate as an economic community. But over the last 50 years, we have been more engaged in security, because insecurity is the deepest enemy of development.”
President Bio said that member-states are advancing plans to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force, including the establishment of a 1,650-person counter-terrorism brigade by the end of 2026, supported by sustainable funding arrangements.
He said: “Economic integration is the bedrock of the ECOWAS vision and the foundation of our collective prosperity.”
He reaffirmed commitments to remove trade barriers, harmonise policies, deepen the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and advance monetary convergence in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Bio said the ECOWAS Convergence Council has strengthened fiscal and monetary coordination, with a single regional currency by 2027 identified as a strategic priority.
He said: “Economic integration is the bedrock of the ECOWAS vision and the foundation of our collective prosperity.”
He reaffirmed commitments to remove trade barriers, harmonise policies, deepen the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and advance monetary convergence in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Bio said the ECOWAS Convergence Council has strengthened fiscal and monetary coordination, with a single regional currency by 2027 identified as a strategic priority.
In a move aimed at easing mobility and stimulating trade and tourism, President Bio announced that from January 1, 2026, ECOWAS will abolish air transport taxes and cut passenger and security charges by 25 per cent.
He said: “This is leadership that is practical, people-centred and responsive to everyday realities.”
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, who read the communique, outlined wide-ranging resolutions on regional security, democratic governance and institutional leadership.
He said the summit reviewed ECOWAS 2025 Annual Report and assessed peace and security in the sub-region.
Touray said the body noted the “relative stability and resilience” of the region, commended the conduct of recent elections in Guinea-Bissau and Côte d’Ivoire, and welcomed preparations by Benin for elections.
He also said that the body acknowledged the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity between the government and the opposition All People’s Congress in Sierra-Leone.
On The Gambia, ECOWAS expressed grave concern over statements made from exile by former President Yahya Jammeh, warning that the pronouncements violated the conditions of his asylum in Equatorial Guinea and posed a threat to peace, security and social cohesion.
