The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unanimously endorsed President John Mahama as its candidate for the Chairmanship of the African Union. This decisive show of unity builds on earlier backing from the region’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs, further strengthening West Africa’s campaign to lead the continental organisation.
The endorsement was a major outcome of the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority, convened on Sunday in Abuja. Despite the summit’s primary focus on urgent security issues—including a recent attempted coup in Benin and persistent unrest in Guinea-Bissau—the collective support for President Mahama underscores a strategic push to elevate West Africa’s role and voice within the African Union.
The formal endorsement by the assembled heads of state represents the highest level of regional backing. It confirms the earlier recommendation made by ECOWAS Foreign Ministers during their preparatory meeting in Abuja, presenting a strong and coordinated show of unity behind President Mahama’s candidature. His bid is widely viewed as an opportunity to strengthen the linkage between regional and continental governance, particularly on matters of peace, security and economic integration.
The endorsement was delivered against the backdrop of a summit largely focused on security threats confronting the sub-region. The heads of state opened their meeting with a firm condemnation of the December 7 attempted coup in Benin and the continuing political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
ECOWAS Chair, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, commended the rapid deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to support the government of Benin, a move he said had been acknowledged by both the African Union and the United Nations. In his address, President Bio described the summit as a critical moment for the 50-year-old bloc, noting that “our collective security and our democratic resilience are under test”.
Alongside the endorsement of President Mahama, leaders agreed on concrete security measures, including maintaining the suspension of Guinea-Bissau and mandating a high-level mediation mission to the country.
The heads of state also reaffirmed their commitment to a comprehensive review of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme to enhance intra-regional trade. In a landmark move set to benefit citizens across West Africa, the Authority has announced that member states will abolish certain air transport taxes and reduce related charges by 25 percent. These changes, effective January 1, 2026, aim to make travel within the region more affordable.
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray also revealed the launch of the ECOWAS Business Council, to be chaired by renowned Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, signaling a push for greater economic collaboration. The summit, however, was marked by ongoing regional tensions, as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger were notably absent after their recent withdrawal from the bloc.
Source: Kester Aburam Korankye
