ECOWAS Defence, Foreign Affairs Ministers Meet in Abuja
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence from ECOWAS Member States are convening in Abuja for the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level. The meeting is being held at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters.
The previous MSC session, the 52nd, took place in July and focused on regional security and political challenges, including the promotion of democratic transitions and peaceful elections across member states.
The 53rd session is chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar. In his welcome address, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership within the West African region. However, Touray expressed concern over the decision of three member states to withdraw from the community as ECOWAS prepares to celebrate its golden jubilee. He urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to the values of ECOWAS.
The meeting will address several critical issues, including the political and security situations in the region, humanitarian challenges, and the establishment of a special tribunal for human rights abuses.
Ambassador Tuggar also commended Ghana for its peaceful election and underscored the significance of political stability for development. He called on ECOWAS member states to intensify efforts to foster peace in West Africa, stressing the importance of regional cooperation and collective action in tackling security challenges.
