MONROVIA - ECOWAS leaders have positioned Liberia for a major rise in regionalinfluence, assigning it a key economic leadership role and earmarking the country to potentially head the ECOWAS Commission in the next decade, following a high-stakes summit that also laid down tough economic, security and governance directives for West Africa.
The decisions were taken at the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held Dec. 14 in Abuja, Nigeria, where regional leaders adopted a sweeping final communique setting priorities for integration, stability and institutional reform across the bloc.
Liberia was represented at the summit by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, as Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, the current ECOWAS Authority chair, chaired deliberations.
Liberia tapped for economic leadership
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Under the institutional allocations approved for the 2026-2030 period, Liberia was assigned the Economic Affairs and Agriculture portfolio at the ECOWAS Commission -- a core role overseeing regional economic coordination, fiscal convergence and agricultural policy.
More consequentially, the Authority agreed to allocate the presidency of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia for the 2030-2034 term, subject to the country meeting eligibility requirements at the time of appointment. If realized, the decision would place Liberia at the helm of the bloc's executive arm for the first time, marking a significant diplomatic milestone.
Liberia was also named among member states to hold seats on the ECOWAS Court of Justice, further strengthening its institutional footprint within the regional body.
Economic outlook and the ECO currency
The Authority welcomed signs of economic resilience across ECOWAS in 2025, citing faster growth, easing inflation and fiscal consolidation. Member states were urged to intensify domestic revenue mobilization and improve the efficiency of public spending, areas that mirror ongoing fiscal debates in Liberia.
On monetary integration, leaders voiced concern over slow macroeconomic convergence as the proposed ECO single currency approaches its target launch window. With fewer than two years remaining, ECOWAS directed member states to align policies more aggressively and approved the reactivation of the Presidential Task Force on the Single Currency, increasing pressure on countries like Liberia to meet convergence benchmarks.
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Power, trade and air transport reforms
The communique highlighted a landmark regional achievement: the synchronization of power systems across 15 West African countries in November 2025. However, leaders warned that persistent payment defaults by national utilities threaten the sustainability of the West African Power Pool -- a concern with implications for Liberia's electricity supply and regional energy cooperation.
In aviation, the Authority ordered member states to reduce passenger and security charges by 25 percent and remove certain air transport taxes starting Jan. 1, 2026, a move expected to affect airfares and potentially ease travel costs to and from Liberia.
On trade, ECOWAS instructed its institutions to harmonize rules under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and address disputes linked to regional levies, a recurring challenge for Liberian exporters operating within the bloc.
Democracy, security and regional stability
On governance and security, ECOWAS reaffirmed its opposition to coups and unconstitutional changes of government, condemning recent disruptions to democratic order in the region. Leaders expressed alarm over worsening insecurity in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin and approved emergency counterterrorism funding for several frontline states.
While Liberia was not flagged as a security hotspot, the Authority urged all member states to strengthen democratic institutions, human rights protections and anti-corruption frameworks -- issues that remain central to Liberia's post-conflict governance agenda.
