Abuja: ECOWAS President, Dr Omar Touray, announced that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) achieved a 4.6% economic growth rate in 2025 amid global economic challenges, with expectations of reaching 5% growth in 2026. Touray shared these insights during a meeting with development partners in Abuja, while presenting the commission’s 2025 Annual Report.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the ECOWAS bloc outperformed the continental average in 2025 due to structural reforms, increased investment in mining and energy, enhanced regional trade facilitation, and a rebound in services, transport, and tourism. Touray mentioned that inflation rates have decreased in some member states owing to coordinated monetary policies and improved food supply. He also noted a significant narrowing of fiscal deficits as governments enhance revenue mobilization and rationalize public expenditure.
Touray highlighted that the sub-region’s external position remains strong, supported by high export earnings from oil, gold, and bauxite. Despite global economic transformations and challenges, Africa continues to show resilience, with recovering growth and declining inflation. The president emphasized the importance of peace and security within the bloc’s mandate, noting efforts in preventive diplomacy and democratic support across the region in 2025.
He addressed the implications of the withdrawal of Sahel State members Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and mentioned the completion of the rotation of the Standby Force by the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff. Touray acknowledged the challenges in counterterrorism efforts due to reduced cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States but noted progress in combating organized crime and terrorism.
On governance, ECOWAS supported electoral preparations, transitions, and reforms in several member states, including C´te d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. The bloc also advanced economic integration, launching the second phase of the pre-movement and migration project and validating the ECOWAS Visa Online approach. Touray highlighted the success of initiatives supporting women and youth, with capacity-building programs benefiting over 1,300 small-scale traders and 50 women-led SMEs.
Touray noted ECOWAS’ commitment of about 8 million dollars to humanitarian and disaster risk reduction efforts and highlighted advancements in regional infrastructure and energy projects. Reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance against unconstitutional government changes, he discussed political developments in Guinea-Bissau and lifted sanctions on the Republic of Guinea following satisfactory elections.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress in the sub-region, Touray concluded that the outlined achievements reflect the resilience, determination, and unity of the ECOWAS community.