The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit convened on Sunday evening in Abuja, Nigeria, where regional leaders gathered to assess the current state of the bloc, which continues to face internal instability. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu officially announced his resignation as the head of ECOWAS after two years of leading the bloc through political unrest and reform efforts.
In his place, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone assumed the leadership of the regional bloc, pledging a bold agenda focused on democracy, security cooperation, economic integration, and institutional trust. Tinubu, who chaired the 67th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, faced a tenure marked by diplomatic tensions and efforts to reposition ECOWAS as a stronger force for stability.
During his leadership, Tinubu navigated unprecedented challenges, including threats of withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following the rise of military regimes. Despite imposing sanctions and engaging in diplomatic efforts, progress in restoring civilian rule remained limited. Tinubu consistently advocated for dialogue and institutional reforms, pushing for peacekeeping operations and a unified regional currency, the “Eco.”
In his acceptance speech, President Bio acknowledged the complexity of challenges facing West Africa, including insecurity in the Sahel, terrorism, and climate change impacts. He outlined a four-point agenda, emphasizing democratic institution-building, security framework reforms, and economic resilience through regional trade and infrastructure.
Bio concluded with a call for unity and optimism, envisioning a prosperous West Africa built on cooperation. His speech was met with applause from regional leaders and diplomats as ECOWAS enters a new phase of leadership during a critical transitional period.
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سيراليون تتسلم راية قيادة “إيكواس” من نيجيريا.. قمة دول غرب أفريقيا تجتمع فى ظل عدم يقين وتزايد الصراعات فى المنطقة.. جوليوس بيو يدعو إلى إصلاح شامل للإطار الأمنى الإقليمى.. ويؤكد: المنطقة تمر بمنعطف
The content remains consistent with the original Arabic text, maintaining factual accuracy and key details.