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 »

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 »

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 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 »

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 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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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., praised Liberian Muslims for their continuous contributions to nation-building during this year’s Islamic Intercessory Service at the 17th Street Mosque in Sinkor. The event was part of celebrations marking Liberia's 177th Independence Anniversary. Read More »

The 4th Annual General Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Network concluded on Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Banjul, Gambia. The meeting resulted in several resolutions aimed at enhancing trade within West Africa. Read More »

On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the Acting ECOWAS Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, His Excellency Francis Chuks Njoaguani, received in audience in Ouagadougou His Excellency Dietrich Becker, the new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany. Read More »

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the ECOWAS Commission conducted a virtual technical launch of the Project on Strengthening ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Capability for Improved Stability and Crisis Prevention on July 16, 2024. The two-year project aims to enhance the technical capacity of the ECOWAS Commission's early warning and response mechanisms to detect, anticipate, and prevent human security crises in West Africa, thereby improving regional stability, investment, and socioeconomic development. Read More »

Freetown International Conference Center, Tuesday 23 July 2024 – President Dr. Julius Maada Bio engaged citizens in a live broadcast Town Hall Meeting, addressing questions from the audience and across the country on his Big Five Game Changers agenda, the economy, foreign affairs, peace, national cohesion, and made a civic call to action. Read More »

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio received the Country Representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Randy Kolstad, at the Presidential Lodge in Freetown on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The official presentation was made by Bryan David Hunt, the Ambassador of the United States to Sierra Leone. Read More »

The Falkland Islands Maritime Authority was notified yesterday afternoon of a distress situation involving the fishing vessel FV Argos Georgia, approximately 200 nautical miles east of Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. Read More »

Ahead of Ghana’s General Elections scheduled for December 7, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed a Pre-election Fact-finding Mission to assess the country’s state of preparedness for the polls. Read More »