Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is hosting his counterparts at the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nine out of the twelve sitting ECOWAS Presidents arrived in Nigeria ahead of the summit, participating in the inaugural West African Economic Summit (WAES) held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, and hosted by the Nigerian government.
The attending Presidents include:
•John Mahama (Ghana)
•Joseph Boakai (Liberia)
•Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone)
•Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal)
•Adama Barrow (The Gambia)
•Patrice Talon (Republic of Benin)
•Jean Lucien de Tové (Togo)
The 67th ECOWAS Ordinary Session is being held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, amid significant political and economic shifts in the region.
Notably, the summit takes place in the wake of the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from ECOWAS earlier in 2025. These countries, following military coups, formally exited the bloc and established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Despite this departure, President Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders have expressed a strong political will to reintegrate the three countries and continue efforts towards regional stability, security cooperation, and economic convergence.
The new effective withdrawal date for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso is now July 29, 2025, following a six-month transition period.
ECOWAS leaders remain hopeful that ongoing dialogue will convince the AES countries to return to the bloc.
On January 29, 2025, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso confirmed their withdrawal from ECOWAS, despite the bloc offering a six-month extension. That same month, ECOWAS formally acknowledged the exit of the three countries.
During the inaugural WAES, President Joseph Boakai of Liberia urged West African leaders to maintain open channels of dialogue with the AES countries.
He emphasized the importance of reconciliation and inclusive cooperation with states that have, in his words, “unfortunately” taken divergent paths. Boakai stressed that the door to ECOWAS must remain open.
In May 2025, ECOWAS marked a symbolic milestone—its 50th anniversary, with a celebration held in Lagos, Nigeria. The regional bloc now comprises 12 active member states: Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The bloc represents a combined population of over 400 million people and a GDP exceeding 800 billion USD.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently serving his second consecutive term as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He was first elected on July 9, 2023, in Guinea-Bissau, and re-elected on July 7, 2024, in Abuja.
His re-election was based on a consensus by regional leaders to ensure continuity in leadership, particularly to sustain efforts toward peace, security, and economic integration.
The election of a new Chairperson is one of the key agenda items at the 67th Ordinary Session