The 95th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States Council of Ministers ended on Friday after several days of deliberations on security, political stability and economic integration across the region.
The meeting, held from December 10 to 12 in Abuja, was chaired by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Kabba, and examined key challenges confronting West Africa.
Ministers discussed the spread of violent extremism in the Sahel, the circulation of small arms, transnational organised crime, maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea and the continued occurrence of unconstitutional changes of government.
In his closing remarks, Kabba said the deliberations also examined political developments in several member states and their implications for democratic governance, adding that Sierra Leone supported ECOWAS’s position that constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law should remain central to the bloc’s agenda.
Economic integration featured prominently, with ministers stressing the need to accelerate regional initiatives such as the ECOWAS single currency, free movement of persons and the Customs Union.
Kabba noted that global economic uncertainty had made it more urgent for West African states to boost intra-regional trade and reduce structural vulnerabilities.
Humanitarian and climate-related challenges were also discussed. Ministers examined issues of food insecurity, displacement, health emergencies and climate shocks, agreeing that these required coordinated regional responses, including stronger early-warning systems and improved preparedness for vulnerable communities.
At the end of the session, Kabba said the council had developed recommendations to be submitted to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
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