Tinubu Hosts ECOWAS Leaders at 67th Ordinary Session Amid Push for Regional Unity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is currently hosting regional leaders at the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government. The high-level summit is taking place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
The session, held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, also featured the inaugural West African Economic Summit (WAES), which brought together nine of the 12 sitting ECOWAS Presidents. Attending leaders include President John Mahama (Ghana), President Joseph Boakai (Liberia), President Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone), President Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), President Adama Barrow (The Gambia), President Patrice Talon (Benin), President Jean Lucien de Tové (Togo), and President Umaro Sissoco Embaló (Guinea-Bissau).
The summit is taking place at a time of significant political and economic shifts in the region, particularly with the formal exit of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from ECOWAS. The three countries, which experienced military coups in recent years, announced their withdrawal earlier this year and have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
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Despite their exit, ECOWAS leaders, under President Tinubu’s leadership, remain hopeful of reintegration. The bloc has emphasized its readiness for continued dialogue and reconciliation. The official withdrawal date for the AES countries is set for July 29, 2025, marking the end of a six-month transition period granted by ECOWAS.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai, speaking during the inaugural WAES, urged regional leaders to keep diplomatic channels open with the AES bloc. “The door to ECOWAS must remain open,” he said, calling for inclusive cooperation and reconciliation.
President Tinubu, who is currently serving his second term as ECOWAS Chairman, was first elected in July 2023 in Guinea-Bissau and re-elected in July 2024 in Abuja. His re-election was based on a consensus by member states to ensure leadership continuity in driving peace, security, and regional integration efforts.
This year’s session is particularly symbolic as ECOWAS marked its 50th anniversary in May 2025, with commemorative events held in Lagos, Nigeria. The regional body now consists of 12 active member states, representing over 400 million people and a combined GDP of more than $800 billion.
The election of a new chairperson is also on the agenda at the 67th Ordinary Session, alongside discussions on strategies to reinvigorate economic cooperation and maintain regional stability.
