As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged West African leaders to forge a united front against the rising tide of unconstitutional government takeovers and violent extremism threatening the region’s stability.
Speaking through Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Biance Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during the anniversary launch in Accra on Tuesday, April 22, Tinubu warned that recent coups and terror threats could erode decades of democratic progress.
“Our region continues to grapple with new and evolving threats—violent extremism, climate change and food insecurity,” Tinubu’s statement read. “The wave of unconstitutional changes seriously threatens the democratic gains we have painstakingly built.”
As current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu reaffirmed his dedication to preserving regional peace and constitutional governance. He called on member states to uphold the foundational principles of the ECOWAS Treaty and intensify collaboration to tackle common threats.
The event drew regional leaders and dignitaries, including former Ghanaian presidents John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, ministers of state, parliamentarians, and youth representatives, symbolizing the bloc’s enduring relevance and shared aspirations for stability and prosperity.
The celebrations, which coincide with growing challenges in the Sahel and beyond, are expected to reignite discussions on ECOWAS reforms, collective security, and regional resilience.
