Tinubu Re-Elected As ECOWAS Chairman

President Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), about one year after he took over the leadership of the regional bloc. 

The Nigerian leader who rose to power in May 2023 was re-elected as the ECOWAS chairman during the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. That event took place at the Presidential Villa in Nigeria’s Abuja capital on Sunday.

During his opening remark at the summit, President Tinubu urged ECOWAS member states to make financial commitments to help in the battle against terrorism in the region.

“As we move to operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasise that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources,” he told the gathering.

“We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region. Member states must make extra commitments to providing resources for stabilising the region.”

In recent years, ECOWAS has been hit by a wave of coups on member nations. Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso have been taken over by junta leaders.

They have also broken away from the regional body. Despite efforts to bring them back, the trio said they have “irrevocably turned their backs” on ECOWAS and have instead formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

During its AES’ maiden summit on Saturday in the Nigerien capital of Niamey,  Niger Republic’s military leader Abdourahamane Tiani accused ECOWAS of incompetence in tackling jihadist incursion into the region.

“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” Tiani said.

ECOWAS had in the wake of the coups imposed sanctions including border closure on the three nations.

While they were lifted in February, the countries left the regional bloc a few days later.