Latest news with #OmarTouray
TimesLIVE
20-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Ecowas agrees to counterterrorism push with West African junta states
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said on Thursday it had reached an agreement with junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to work together against terrorism, marking a possible thawing of relations with the three breakaway states. The three withdrew from the West African regional bloc last year, in what was seen as a blow to efforts to reduce trade barriers, allow free movement and fight a growing threat from Islamist militants across the region. "We have secured an understanding ... on the need to work together to build confidence to collectively confront terrorism and violent extremism," Ecowas president Omar Touray said at a summit in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. He said they also agreed to sustain gains made under Ecowas protocols relating to economic integration and development. Violence fuelled by a decade-long fight with Islamist groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State has worsened since the three countries' militaries seized power in a series of coups from 2020 to 2023. After leaving Ecowas — the Economic Community of West African States — the three set up the Alliance of Sahel States.
Zawya
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Philippine Ambassador Presents Letter of Credence as Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
The Philippine Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mr. Mersole J. Mellejor presented his Letter of Credence signed by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, designating him as Philippine Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, in a ceremony held at the ECOWAS Secretariat in the Nigerian capital Abuja on 16 June 2025. This is the first time that the Philippines has an accredited permanent representative to the ECOWAS since its establishment under the Treaty of Lagos in May 1975. While the Philippines is not an ECOWAS member, having a permanent representative is a welcome development allowing attendance in ECOWAS meetings/activities, which offer good networking opportunities and more visibility for the country in line with its thrust for a more focused engagement with Africa. ECOWAS was formed in 1975 originally by 15 countries in Western Africa: namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sénégal and Togo. Cabo Verde joined in 1977. Mauritania withdrew in December 2000 but subsequently signed an associate-membership agreement in August 2017. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger withdrew on 29 January 2025 following the establishment of military rule in these countries, which is deemed contrary to ECOWAS principles. At present, ECOWAS has 12 members. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deepens engagement with community citizens to advance implementation of free movement protocol across West Africa
In a renewed effort to enhance free movement of persons and goods and strengthen regional integration and trade across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) is intensifying collaboration with Community citizens and key stakeholders to advance the effective implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods, and Services. As part of this initiative, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, undertook a working visit to the Nigeria–Benin (Lagos/Seme) Border on Wednesday, 7 May 2025. The visit aimed to assess the state of implementation of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol and to engage directly with border officials, national authorities, and Community citizens. During the visit, H.E. Dr. TOURAY held consultations with representatives of the governments of Nigeria and Benin, as well as other critical stakeholders to explore ways of improving operational efficiency and removing barriers to the seamless movement of people and goods along the Lagos-Seme corridor—one of the busiest border crossings in the region. Dr. TOURAY was accompanied by Ambassador Musa.S. NUHU, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS; Mr. Albert SIAW-BOATENG, Director of Free Movement at the ECOWAS Commission; Mr. Abdou KOLLEY, Director of Cabinet in the Office of the ECOWAS President; and other senior Commission staff. The delegation visited the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post to inspect the functionality of infrastructure provided by ECOWAS and to interact with Nigerian and Beninois customs and immigration personnel. Speaking during the visit, Dr. TOURAY emphasized the importance of first-hand assessments in understanding the challenges on the ground. According to Dr. TOURAY, ' This visit is important to ECOWAS in many ways. It has enabled us to see how the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement is being implemented at this very important corridor which is the busiest in the region. What happens here tells us a lot about the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol. The challenges we are facing here can be resolved to enable us to replicate what works well here elsewhere.' ' Before arriving at this Joint Border Post, I had the opportunity to interact with Community citizens including transporters, road corridor users and security officials. We have listened carefully to them because the aim of this mission is to listen to them and report back to our authorities with strong recommendations that will work in favour of our Community citizens. It is a pleasure to see this Joint Border Post. It is a structure that has a lot of potential. But it is at the same time disappointing to see that some facilities that cost us a lot of money are not working.' He added, 'We can't continue to have expensive infrastructure of this nature and not having them work. This visit has enabled us to really have a good idea of how things are so that we can address the challenges because I don't think that our Community will forgive us for having infrastructure in place that should be working at an optimal level, but it is not working. We will dig into this to see how we can make it work.' Reaffirming the ECOWAS Commission's commitment to removing operational bottlenecks, Dr. TOURAY called on citizens to uphold their responsibilities by traveling with proper identification. ' I want to use this opportunity to also appeal to our Community citizens to always bear in mind that free movement does not mean no documentation. The appropriate identification papers, security checks, and customs procedures remain necessary to balance openness with safety and order. Our people must understand that they need valid identification to travel. Security and freedom must go hand in hand,' Dr. TOURAY said. In his remarks, Nigeria's Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Musa S. NUHU praised the ECOWAS President for undertaking the on-the-ground visit and highlighted Nigeria's efforts to improve compliance with the ECOWAS Protocol. He noted that the Nigerian government has established a Presidential Task Force to dismantle illegal checkpoints along the corridor to facilitate smoother cross-border movement. In an interactive session with Dr. TOURAY, Nigerian and Beninois customs and immigration officials at the Joint Border Post commended the visit and appealed for ECOWAS support in repairing key infrastructure—including scanners, weighbridges, electricity supply systems, and water facilities. They expressed confidence that the President's visit would lead to enhanced infrastructure and more efficient border operations. The ECOWAS Commission continues to prioritize initiatives that enhance trade, mobility, and security, thereby fostering deeper integration and improved livelihoods for all Community citizens across the West African region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) Executive Director pays courtesy visit to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen cooperation on safety, training and strategic technologies
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received in audience the Executive Director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), Dr. Lars van Dassen, during a high-level courtesy visit held on 2 May 2025 at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja. The visit aimed to advance dialogue on regional capacity building, training, and strategic governance frameworks for the secure and responsible use of high-impact technologies, including nuclear science for development. Dr. van Dassen was accompanied by a delegation from WINS, underscoring the organisation's commitment to engage with West African institutions in co-developing tailored approaches to safety, regulatory strengthening, and public benefit applications across key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and energy. President Touray welcomed the delegation, reaffirming ECOWAS's leadership in supporting innovation that aligns with regional development priorities. 'We must ensure that the region is equipped to govern the technologies shaping our future—securely, transparently, and with citizen wellbeing at the core,' he stated. The meeting brought together senior ECOWAS officials, including Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom, Director for Peacekeeping and Regional Security; General Mactar Diop, Chief of the ECOWAS Standby Force; and other technical experts from the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS). Their presence highlighted the cross-cutting relevance of the initiative to regional security, governance, and sustainable development. Discussions focused on future cooperation in training, regulatory dialogue, and institutional preparedness, as well as raising awareness on the safe management of sensitive technologies. This partnership aligns with the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to strengthen resilience and innovation as pillars of a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous West Africa. The ECOWAS Commission expressed its readiness to collaborate with WINS in building the capacities required to harness scientific and technological advancement in a way that serves the public good and supports Africa's development agenda. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
