West Africa: ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Call for Seamless Transformation of AFISMA Into a UN Operation

The ECOWAS Committee of Chief of Defence Staff (CCDS) ended an extraordinary meeting in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday 26th March 2013, calling for effective cooperation… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Determined to Improve Energy Access in West Africa

ECOWAS is working with stakeholders to improve access to energy in the region which is currently under 50 per cent, an official of the regional organization has affirmed. Read more »

West Africa: Sustained International Engagement Required to End Mali Crisis

The Chairman of ECOWAS Committee of Chief of Defence Staff (CCDS), General Soumaila Babayoko has called for intensified and sustained international support to rid Mali of the… Read more »

West Africa: Minister Cautions West Africa On Epa Negotiations With EU

Cape Verde's Minister of External Relations, Honourable Jorge Borges has warned of dire consequences for West Africa's economy should the region concede to the European Union's… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Hails Cape Verde As Beacon of Democracry

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo has hailed Cape Verde as a beacon of hope for democracy and a model… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Ministers of Finance Adopt Regional Common External Tariff

Regional ministers of finance on Wednesday, 20th March 2013 in Praia, Cape Verde endorsed a new region wide tariff regime for West Africa in another important milestone on the road… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Underscores Nexus Between Regional Development, Peace and Stability

ECOWAS cannot afford to divorce development from peace and stability as a sine qua non for Community development, given the dynamics of recurrent security challenges in the region,… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Holds Its First Consultative Meeting for the 2016-2020 Strategic Document

The ECOWAS Commission has launched preparations for its four year medium term strategic plan ( 2016-2020) with an inaugural consultative meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Read more »

West Africa: West Africa Set to Adopt Region Wide Common External Tariff

West Africa is on the verge of history with the impending adoption of a region wide Common External Tariff (CET) that has salutary implications for the ECOWAS integration project… Read more »

West Africa: Speaker Calls for Enhanced Powers of ECOWAS Parliament

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on Friday, 15th March 2013 in Uyo, capital of Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State, urged stakeholders to support a draft Act for… Read more »

West Africa: President Ouedraogo Urges Improved Coordination of ECOWAS Projects At National Level

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo has called for proposals from stakeholders to improve communication and… Read more »

West Africa: Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State Honours ECOWAS

Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State is building an International Conference Centre in Uyo the State capital, whose Main Hall will be named after ECOWAS as a tribute to the Organisation for… Read more »

West Africa: Cotonou to Host Ministerial Conference On Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security

An Inter-ministerial Conference of ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, is to be held in Cotonou, Benin… Read more »

West Africa: Call for Abolition of 90-Day Stay Limit for ECOWAS Citizens

Two key provisions of the regional Protocol on free movement of persons, one of which imposes a 90-day limit for community citizens visiting other Member States and another… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS in Solidarity With Venezuela

The Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toga Gayewea McIntosh is among dignitaries that have visited the Venezuelan Embassy in Abuja to commiserate with the Government and… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Condoles With Government and People of Venezuela Over President Chavez's Death

ECOWAS has expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden death of President Hugo Chavez. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Kadré Désiré… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Discuss AFISMA Transformation Into UN Operation

A Select Committee of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff met in Bamako on Friday 8th March 2013 to consider procedures for the transformation of the African-led International… Read more »

West Africa: ECOWAS, Wami Move to Boost Intra-Community Trade

ECOWAS and the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) are to launch a trade facilitation support project to address the barriers militating against intra- community trade to enable… Read more »

West Africa: Senegalese Film Director, Toure Wins ECOWAS Special Prize At Fespaco

Senegalese film director, Mr. Moussa Touré won the ECOWAS Special Prize for promoting Regional Integration at the just-ended 23rd Edition of the Ouagadougou Pan-African… Read more »

West Africa: Ecowas Committee Meets On Risk Management

Members of the ECOWAS Strategic Planning and Coordination Committee (SPCC) will begin a three-day meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on Monday 4th March, 2013 to finalize the… Read more »

West Africa: West Africa's Malaria Elimination Campaign Gets a Big Boost

The ground breaking ceremony for the construction of three factories in West Africa to produce biolarvicides under the regional Malaria Elimination Campaign Programme took place in… Read more »

West Africa: West Africa Records Impressive Economic Growth in 2012

West Africa achieved an economic growth rate of 6.9 percent in 2012, which is more than double the global rate and an increase over the 5.9 per cent recorded by the region in the… Read more »

West Africa: Regional Ministers Endorse Plan to Transform Afisma Into UN Mission

Ministers of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council have endorsed the proposed transformation of the African-led International Mission in Mali (AFISMA) into a UN peacekeeping… Read more »

West Africa: Experts Urge Comprehensive Review of Offer to EU On EPA Negotiations With West Africa

West African experts have recommended a comprehensive review of the market access offer to the European Union (EU) in order to break the deadlock between the two parties in the… Read more »

West Africa: Ecowas Member States Reaffirm Common Position On Arms Trade Treaty Negotiations

Delegates to the just-ended regional Abuja Roundtable on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) negotiations have reiterated support for the ECOWAS Common Position (ECP) on the Treaty,… Read more »