Former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Emmanuel Bombande, has praised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its significant role in fostering regional stability and integration, despite facing numerous challenges in recent years.
In an interview on JoyNews’ NewsDesk, Mr. Bombande reflected on ECOWAS’s historical evolution, emphasizing that the bloc has been an essential force in the political and economic development of West Africa.
“ECOWAS has worked well for us as a West African region,” he said, recognizing the long-standing efforts to unite member states through regional trade and commerce.
He pointed out that ECOWAS’s initial focus on economic integration was soon overshadowed by the reality of regional instability, leading the organization to adapt its priorities. “Sooner than later, we realized that integration could not only be about trade,” Mr. Bombande explained.
The shift in focus culminated in the revision of the ECOWAS Treaty in 1993, which, according to Bombande, empowered the bloc to take a more proactive and assertive role in addressing regional crises.
“This revision gave us the impetus to respond to the destabilization that was almost going to paralyze the region,” he noted.
While he acknowledged the setbacks ECOWAS has faced in recent years, Bombande emphasized that the organization has continued to play a crucial role in maintaining peace and order across West Africa.
