The 68th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently underway in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja.
The session is bringing together regional leaders to deliberate on pressing political, security, and economic issues confronting the sub-region.
The opening session of the high-level meeting is being chaired by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Sierra Leone, Dr Julius Maada Bio, who is presiding over the deliberations.
Presidents in attendance include; President Adama Barrow of The Gambia; President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé of Togo; President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin; President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia; President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal; President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire; President José Maria Neves of Cape Verde; and the representative of Cameroon.
Nigeria, as host nation, is represented at the summit by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is standing in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Key agenda items include; a special debate on the future of the ECOWAS community, reflecting growing concerns over unity and institutional resilience.
Leaders will also consider the 2025 Annual Report on the State of the Community, review reports on regional security and mediation efforts, receive updates on Guinea’s political transition, and assess the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) aimed at boosting intra-regional trade.
A closed-door session is underway, focusing on strategic direction, political stability, security cooperation, and deeper economic integration, as leaders deliberate on regional peace and security, democratic governance, and collective responses to emerging challenges, reaffirming ECOWAS’ commitment to cooperation, stability, and shared prosperity across West Africa.
The 68th session is taking place against the backdrop of recent security developments in the Republic of Benin, where authorities announced the foiling of an attempted coup, an incident that again brought to the fore concerns over unconstitutional changes of government in the sub-region.
Amid the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Nigerian Armed Forces to work with regional partners to safeguard democracy and constitutional order.
Nigeria has remained at the forefront of regional diplomatic and stabilisation efforts, playing a key role in ECOWAS’ collective response to political crises through dialogue, security cooperation, and respect for the rule of law.
ECOWAS has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance stance against coups and any form of unconstitutional takeover of power, reiterating its commitment to democratic rule, constitutional order, and the sovereignty of member states.
The regional bloc has repeatedly warned that instability in one country poses a collective threat to the peace and development of the entire sub-region.