The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has advocated for the promotion of multilateralism at the United Nations (UN). The ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb Abdel-Fatau Musah, presented these initiatives during the ECOWAS @ 49 high-level event held on June 7, 2024, at the UN headquarters in New York.
Representing ECOWAS Commission’s President Omar Alieu Touray, Commissioner Musah highlighted the relationship between regionalism, democracy, and development in West Africa. He referenced ECOWAS's historical interventions starting with Chad in 1981 and continuing through ECOMOG missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, and recent mediation efforts within its Member States.
Commissioner Musah emphasized that West Africa has been a significant source of African empires and civilization. He stated that ECOWAS should build on its accomplishments as the first regional organization to establish protocols for free movement of persons, goods, and rights of residence and establishment.
He further noted that ECOWAS is committed to interconnectivity across land, sea, and air. The organization has established various entities and integration schemes such as a common external tariff aimed at boosting economic interdependence.
Musah informed the assembly that self-sufficiency is a priority for ECOWAS as it draws 75 to 80 percent of its funding from a community levy. He acknowledged Nigeria's substantial contributions to this effort. Additionally, he cited successes in UN peacekeeping exercises supported by ECOWAS frameworks like the supplementary protocol on good governance and democracy.
Addressing democratic principles within ECOWAS, Musah mentioned three Member States planning to withdraw from the organization. He stressed that this indicates declining support for multilateralism and emphasized the need for rebuilding it through shared global values. “Disagreement must not lead to divorce,” he said. “We are determined that they come back as there is a lot to lose by all sides should they go.”
The session was moderated by H.E. Amb Cheikh Niang of Senegal. Presentations included those by UN Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Amina J. Mohammed who outlined ECOWAS's achievements. Goodwill messages were delivered by H.E Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai of ECOWAS at the UN; Prof Rita Kiki Edozie from University of Massachusetts Boston; representatives from African Union; and European Union officials who expressed support for strengthening multilateralism with ECOWAS.
The special session aimed to foster collective understanding of ECOWAS’s strategies in addressing challenges while underscoring regionalism's relevance for democracy and sustainable development.
The high-level dialogue event themed "ECOWAS at 49: Regionalism, Democracy, and Development in West Africa: Building Blocks to Strengthening Multilateralism" was streamed live on UN Web TV.
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