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.
Discussions centered on cooperation between ECOWAS and Germany, particularly through GIZ, collaboration with the European Union, the decision to withdraw countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from ECOWAS, irregular migration of young people from the region to Europe, and the ECOWAS single currency.
Regarding the withdrawal of AES countries from ECOWAS, Njoaguani reiterated the Community’s efforts to achieve a positive outcome. He highlighted the recent appointment by regional Heads of State of three high-level mediators to initiate dialogue with AES countries.
Ambassador Becker noted a pragmatic tone in the communiqué from the first Summit of ESA Heads of State and expressed hope that it would serve as a starting point for collaboration between ESA and ECOWAS. He reaffirmed Germany’s readiness to support ECOWAS in its regional integration efforts.
Both officials expressed satisfaction with their productive discussions, which allowed them to address current issues and strengthen cooperative relations.
