The sub-African organization ECOWAS has chosen Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to serve as its next chairman in the midst of West Africa’s growing instability, which includes military coups and terrorism.
On Sunday afternoon in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, the regional organization’s 63rd Ordinary Session elected the recently elected Nigerian president to lead it.
Six successful military coups have been carried out in West Africa since 2020, reversing the region’s trend toward losing its status as the “coup belt.”
One of the heads of state or government of the member nations, who are chosen on a yearly basis for a tenure of one year, is in charge of the ECOWAS Chairmanship. The position has been held by Muhammadu Buhari, a former president of Nigeria, from 2018 to 2019.
President Tinubu, who was chosen on Sunday, will succeed president Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea Bissau. He appealed for quick action to be taken against instability, including terrorism and coups in West Africa, which he claimed had reached “alarming proportions.”
As the newest head of state in West Africa, president Tinubu said he is committed to respect the duties of the position and oversee an inclusive leadership of the regional body.
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However, the president of Nigeria issued a grim warning, stressing that terrorism and a growing pattern of military takeover had made the sub-regional threat to peace disturbingly serious, necessitating an immediate and coordinated response.
He claimed that instability and suppressed terrorism were impeding the prosperity and development of the region.
“There is no one here among us who did not campaign to be a leader. We didn’t give our soldiers resources, we didn’t invest in them, in their boots, in their training to violate the freedom of the people. To turn their guns against civil authorities is a violation of the principles upon which they were hired, which is, to defend the sovereignty of their nations. We must not sit in ECOWAS as toothless bulldogs,” the president said.
“On peace and security, the threat has reached an alarming level and needs urgent actions in addressing the challenges. In this regard, we must remain committed to the utilization of all regional frameworks at our disposal to address the menace of insecurity,” he added.
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The Chairman engages in lobbying, plays a strategic role in resolving disputes, and communicates with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the executive in charge of managing and carrying out ECOWAS policies and decisions on a daily basis, even though the position does not confer administrative authority.
