February 13, 2025

ECOWAS at a crossroads: Can a credibility crisis be overcome?

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) finds itself at a pivotal moment in its history. Once a beacon of hope for regional integration, stability, and governance, the organization is now grappling with a credibility crisis that threatens to undermine its very foundation.

At the center of this storm is Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current chairperson of ECOWAS, whose leadership has come under fire following a damning report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The report ranks Tinubu as the third most corrupt leader in the world—a revelation that casts a long shadow over ECOWAS’s mission and values.


The implications are profound. How can an organization tasked with promoting good governance and transparency reconcile such allegations against its leader? The optics alone are troubling, particularly for a bloc that has often positioned itself as a moral authority in addressing coups, electoral crises, and corruption within member states.

Critics argue that ECOWAS cannot afford to ignore this elephant in the room. “The chairperson’s integrity reflects on the institution as a whole. This ranking undermines the credibility of ECOWAS, both within the region and on the global stage,” one observer noted. Indeed, for many West Africans, this scandal reinforces growing skepticism about whether ECOWAS prioritizes the people’s interests or those of political elites.

Yet, President Tinubu’s allies remain defiant, labeling the OCCRP report as politically motivated. “This is another baseless attack aimed at discrediting a leader committed to advancing governance and development,” a spokesperson argued. While this defense may resonate with loyalists, it does little to address the broader questions facing ECOWAS.

This moment calls for bold introspection and decisive action. ECOWAS has the opportunity to chart a new course by demonstrating a commitment to accountability, even at the highest levels. Silence or inaction risks eroding public trust further and weakening its ability to mediate regional challenges effectively.

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