Ecowas summit set for December 10 in Abuja amidst regional crisis
The upcoming summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), grappling with the aftermath of recent military coups, is scheduled to convene on December 10 in Abuja, as announced by the Côte d’Ivoire presidency on Thursday.
According to a press release issued after a meeting between Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and Ecowas Commission President Omar Alieu Touray in Abidjan on Wednesday, the next ordinary summit will be hosted in the Nigerian capital. The previous summit in early August primarily focused on addressing the situation in Niger following the military coup on July 26, which ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Heads of State had previously considered military intervention to reinstate President Bazoum and had imposed significant economic and financial sanctions on Niger, governed by a military regime led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. Ecowas Commissioner for Political Affairs, Abdel-Fatau Musah, clarified that while the military option is not abandoned, it has been temporarily suspended pending the effectiveness of sanctions.
Amidst the deadlock in dialogue with the leaders of Niger, Musah emphasized the non-negotiable stance on a three-year transition period proposed by General Tiani before returning to constitutional order. The breakdown in communication has hindered resolution attempts, with the leaders of Niger reportedly refusing to engage.
Notably, four Ecowas member countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea—have been under military rule since 2020 due to coups d’état. These nations, affected by jihadist violence, have united in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Additionally, a recent attempted coup in Sierra Leone, another Ecowas member, resulted in the loss of 21 lives, according to senior officials in the country.
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