The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Cabo Verde are strengthening cooperation across health, energy, social inclusion and regional integration as the West African bloc seeks to deepen its engagement with the island nation.
The newly appointed ECOWAS Resident Representative to Cabo Verde, Ambassador João Butiam Co, made this a priority during a series of meetings with senior government officials and members of the diplomatic community.
The engagements focused on regional cooperation, shared priorities and ways of strengthening Cabo Verde’s role in the ECOWAS integration agenda.
During a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Communities and National Defence, Ambassador Manuel Amante da Rosa, both sides reaffirmed the importance of sustained institutional dialogue and closer engagement with ECOWAS.
The Resident Representative also met the Minister of Health, Dr Lúcio Miranda Fernandes, alongside representatives of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), to explore opportunities for stronger regional collaboration in healthcare.
Engagement with the Minister of Environment, Climate Action and Energy, Carlos Varela, focused on environmental sustainability, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The discussions also highlighted the role of ECOWAS institutions, including the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), in supporting Cabo Verde’s national priorities and broader regional objectives.
In the social development sector, Butiam Co met the Minister of Family, Social Inclusion and Labour, Adelsia Almeida, to discuss Cabo Verde’s role within ECOWAS and opportunities to strengthen cooperation on issues affecting citizens and communities.
The meeting emphasised the need for regional integration to translate into tangible benefits for people across West Africa.
The ECOWAS Representative also held consultations with members of the diplomatic community, including the ambassadors of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, with Senegal’s ambassador serving as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
The consultations are aimed at improving coordination among ECOWAS member states and strengthening understanding of the opportunities presented by regional cooperation.
According to Butiam Co, the engagements reflect the importance of closer coordination between the ECOWAS Commission, its institutions, agencies and national authorities in advancing the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050.
He said the consultations would contribute to efforts to build a more integrated, peaceful and prosperous West Africa.
The meetings form part of a broader consultation programme that will continue with additional government officials, national institutions and diplomatic representatives in Cabo Verde.
