Abuja: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced an agreement with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to collectively address terrorism and violent extremism in the region. This was revealed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, during the 94th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Touray highlighted the importance of sustaining the progress made under various protocols related to economic integration, development programs, and social cohesion. Additionally, he mentioned the resumption of discussions on political transition in Guinea, emphasizing the goal of creating an environment conducive for its citizens to determine their political future.
Touray urged council members to apply their collective wisdom and regional solidarity to address issues and guide the acceleration of regional integration and development. He stated that the commission would present various memoranda to the council, reflecting advancements in regional integration and development. One memorandum included the results from the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, where they validated key regional instruments concerning trade, industry, and investment promotion.
The ministers also discussed non-tariff barriers within the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They approved the bloc’s trade and investment promotion strategy and encouraged member states to expedite the ratification of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) fisheries subsidy agreement and AfCFTA. Touray noted the persistence of non-tariff barriers as obstacles to regional trade, investment, industrialization, competitiveness, and economic growth, despite numerous initiatives aimed at addressing these issues.
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, emphasized the significance of the two-day event as a milestone in the bloc’s journey toward economic integration. He urged participants to engage in open, constructive, and forward-thinking discussions, emphasizing the importance of translating decisions into meaningful outcomes for member states and their citizens.
The ECOWAS Council of Ministers, consisting of ministers from each member state, serves as one of the primary decision-making bodies of ECOWAS. Its main role is to recommend actions to the Authority of Heads of State and Government, based on resolutions from the ECOWAS Parliament, to achieve the bloc’s objectives.
