The Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission conducted a four-day monitoring and evaluation mission to Togo from July 15th to 18th, 2024. The mission aimed to assess the impact of ECOWAS humanitarian response on communities affected by flooding and food insecurity, as part of efforts to strengthen the ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism (EHRM). Read More »

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. of Liberia held a strategic virtual meeting with entrepreneur Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest businessman. The discussion allowed Musk to express his gratitude for the engagement and commend the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly Minister Sara Beyslow-Nyanti and her team, for their coordination and facilitation. Read More »

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has announced additional nominations and appointments within the Liberian government. These changes impact several key institutions, including the Liberia Land Authority, William V. S. Tubman University, ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited, ArcelorMittal Holdings (Concessionaire), National Public Health Institute of Liberia, and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA). Read More »

Fogo, Cabo Verde – July 18, 2024 – The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has announced the inauguration of an electrification project in Chã das Caldeiras on the island of Fogo, Cabo Verde. The project features a mini grid powered by solar photovoltaic energy and was developed in partnership with the local AgroCoopCha cooperative. Funding was provided by the Cabo Verde government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and ECREEE through the ECOWAS Special Intervention Fund (ESIF). This initiative provides universal... Read More »

On Friday, July 12, 2024, Chief Minister Julie Thomas extended her congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer on his recent appointment as Prime Minister of the UK, following Labour’s decisive victory in the recent General Election. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Thomas conveyed the warm greetings of the Government and people of St Helena. Read More »

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio presided over the oath-taking ceremony of the new Secretary to the President, Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, at the Presidential Lodge in Hill Station, Freetown, on Friday, July 19, 2024. The President expressed hope and confidence that Dr. Gaima would bring his extensive expertise on governance to bear on his new role. Read More »

The Gambian Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, expressed his belief that intra-regional trade could create markets, stimulate industrial growth, and generate job opportunities for West African citizens. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual General Meeting of the Trade Promotion Organizations (TPO) Network of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Banjul, Gambia, he emphasized the importance of regional efforts to boost trade in West Africa. Read More »

Two development applications have been referred to the Executive Council sitting as the Planning Authority, in accordance with the Direction to the Chief Planning Officer by Executive Council dated 14 June 2022. Read More »

The Directorate of Financial Reporting and Grants conducted a three-day staff retreat from July 9 to 11 in Kano, Nigeria. The event aimed to foster team building, collaboration, and communication within the Directorate to improve performance. Read More »

Over the years, ECOWAS Member States have initiated policies and legal frameworks to address migration management, border delimitation, security, and development of border regions. Many countries have established or strengthened National Boundary Commissions with border governance responsibilities. However, there is a real challenge in terms of strengthening synergies, the articulation of scale between actors, and the coordination of cross-border initiatives—a role that ECOWAS can validly play. It is against this background that the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons of... Read More »

The Vice President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Her Excellency Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, attended the International Congress on Conflict Mediation and Peace Building in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on July 16 and 17, 2024. Organized by the Women for Africa Foundation and the United Nations Alliance for Civilizations, the event emphasized women’s crucial role in peacebuilding. Read More »

Since the establishment of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (EIMS) in 2014, the operationalization of the ECOWAS Maritime Coordination Centres (EMCCs) across maritime zones E, F, and G, as well as the West Africa Regional Maritime Coordination Centre (CRESMAO), has significantly contributed to reducing piracy and sea robbery incidents in the ECOWAS Maritime Domain (EMD). Despite these successes, the EMCCs face challenges that undermine their efficiency, such as unclear status, staffing issues, and funding constraints. As part of efforts to accelerate proper... Read More »

On July 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Commission commenced a workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, focused on revising the Supplementary Act on personal data protection and building capacity for data harmonisation and cross-border data flows. The workshop, hosted by the ECOWAS Commission, saw participation from representatives of Member States' ministries responsible for ICT and the digital economy, Data Protection Authorities, the African Union, the European Union, DPSE, and GIZ. Read More »

The Network of Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold its 4th Annual General Meeting from July 16 to 18, 2024, in Banjul, The Gambia. Read More »

A second meeting of the Police and Crime Panel is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, 2024, from 14:30 to 16:00. The meeting will be held at the Education Learning Centre in Jamestown. Read More »

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. of Liberia received Letters of Credence from six Ambassadors at the Executive Mansion on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. The presentation signifies recognition of Liberia's leadership in the international community. Read More »

State House, Freetown, Thursday 18 July 2024 – His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio addressed the Development Partnership Committee (DEPAC) meeting, reiterating his commitment to global peace and security and making democracy purposeful in the region. He also reminded attendees of Sierra Leone’s forthcoming presidency at the United Nations Security Council from August 2024 to 2025. Read More »

Jason Scharfman, the Chief Compliance Officer of Corgentum Consulting, stated it is "urgent" for the Nigerian government to release Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee detained since February, due to Gambaryan's deteriorating health. Scharfman shared his statement in a July 16 post on X after Gambaryan appeared in Nigerian court in a wheelchair. Read More »

With the implementation of regional counter-terrorism measures and the need to engage other non-kinetic methods in the fight against violent extremism, the Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen Attijaniyya, an Islamic organization with a global network, is seeking to collaborate with ECOWAS on organizing a regional conference on security and governance. Read More »

In conjunction with the African Union, the ECOWAS Commission is working with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung to advance the cause of youth, peace, and security in West Africa. This collaboration aims to enable young people to understand the Youth for Peace (Y4P) agenda and develop their National Action Plans. Read More »