Nigeria is hosting the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), currently taking place at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
The summit is being chaired by Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is serving his second consecutive term as ECOWAS Chairperson. He was re-elected in July 2024 following his initial appointment in 2023.
Ahead of the summit, nine out of the twelve sitting ECOWAS presidents arrived in Abuja to participate in the inaugural West African Economic Summit (WAES), held on Saturday, 21 June 2025. The economic summit set the tone for deliberations on regional integration and economic development.
The attending Heads of State include:
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John Mahama (Ghana)
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Joseph Boakai (Liberia)
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Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone)
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Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal)
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Adama Barrow (The Gambia)
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Patrice Talon (Benin)
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Jean Lucien de Tové (Togo)
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Umaro Sissoco Embaló (Guinea-Bissau)
Also Read: Tinubu to Open ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Lagos
The summit is taking place at a time of major political change in the region, following the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS in early 2025. These countries, all led by military regimes, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and are expected to complete their formal exit by 29 July 2025, after a six-month transitional period.
Despite their departure, President Tinubu and other ECOWAS leaders have expressed hope for reintegration, reaffirming their commitment to regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation.
Speaking at the WAES, President Joseph Boakai of Liberia urged leaders to maintain open lines of communication with the AES states. “We must continue to engage our brothers who have, unfortunately, taken divergent paths. The door to ECOWAS must remain open,” he said.
The session also coincides with ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, which was commemorated in Lagos in May 2025. The bloc now comprises 12 active member states, representing over 400 million people and a combined GDP exceeding $800 billion.
One of the key agenda items at the 67th session is the election of a new ECOWAS Chairperson, although President Tinubu is widely supported to continue in the role for the sake of continuity and stability.
The outcomes of the session are expected to shape the next phase of regional integration and diplomacy across West Africa.
