President Tinubu Emerges ECOWAS Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Naija News reports that Tinubu was elected at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), held in Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

Speaking after his emergence, he said: “We will take democracy seriously. Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government.”

The Nigerian leader took over from President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari previously held the position in 2018.

Naija News reports that the ECOWAS summit addressed several important regional topics and also featured discussions on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and a report on the obstacles to the free movement of goods along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

The Summit also looked at the report from the 50th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) concerning security challenges within member nations; a report from the 90th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers about the group’s financial situation and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); and a report on the state of political transition in the Republics of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.