Abuja: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed its commitment to strengthening relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, despite existing trust issues between the parties. This was highlighted by ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Touray, during his presentation of the 2025 Annual Community Report on the State of the Community to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the annual report provides the ECOWAS President with the opportunity to thoroughly review and inform parliamentarians about developments across key sectors within the region. The report encompasses a broad range of topics, including political, economic, security, agricultural, humanitarian support, economic integration, and public health issues.
Touray acknowledged that the withdrawal of the Sahel States from ECOWAS has complicated cooperation on peace and security, emphasizing the need for increased efforts to rebuild trust. While ECOWAS continues collaboration in trade, free movement of persons, and other protocols with the three countries, security cooperation remains a significant challenge.
Touray noted that ECOWAS has been diplomatically engaging global partners such as the U.S. and Russia to address the trust deficit, which has led to improved relations with the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) in recent months. He highlighted the absence of hostile exchanges in the past eight months as a positive development and noted that both parties are maintaining the status quo until a new agreement is reached.
Despite these diplomatic strides, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers has directed nationals of the Sahel States to vacate their posts within ECOWAS institutions. Senior officials departed by September 30, with other staff expected to leave by April 15, 2026.
In addition, Touray announced that the long-anticipated ECOWAS single currency, Eco, is slated for launch in 2027, initially as a virtual currency. He stated that all necessary convergence criteria have been identified, and member states are working toward meeting these milestones.
Touray also addressed Guinea-Bissau’s recent electoral crisis, cautioning against actions that might result in the proclamation of false electoral outcomes. He affirmed that ECOWAS stands ready to deploy forces swiftly if needed, citing the rapid assembly of missions in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, with contributions from Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.