Liberia and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have formalized an agreement establishing the headquarters of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Center in Liberia. The signing took place on December 11, 2025, during the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting in Abuja.
The agreement was signed by Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. This treaty sets out the legal status of the center and grants it certain privileges, including immunity for staff and property as well as extraterritorial rights.
According to the press release, “This act, signed in Abuja by H.E. Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Liberian government, and by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, constitutes the formal conclusion of the treaty between ECOWAS and the Republic of Liberia. It defines the legal status of the CDJS/ECOWAS and guarantees its independence, as well as privileges such as immunities and extraterritoriality of premises for its staff and property.”
At a ceremony following the signing, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Dr. Touray received recognition from Nyanti on behalf of Liberia for their roles in supporting peace efforts in Liberia. As stated in the release: “At the end of this solemn ceremony for the signing of the CDJS/ECOWAS’ headquarters agreement, H.E. Olushegun (Shegun) ADJADI BAKARI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin, and Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, received from H.E. Ms. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, on behalf of the Member States and ECOWAS, respectively, for their immense contribution to the restoration of peace, democracy, and stability in Liberia.”