Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been elected the new chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Togo’s capital Lome.
He takes over the yearly rotational role from Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe who faced a tough task in his 12-month tenure. Togolese opposition parties protested his continued stay in power over the entire period.
Buhari’s election was announced at the end of the 53rd Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State which ended on Monday evening.
Buhari took over from the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, who was chairman from June 2017 to yesterday. The Togolese president took over from the former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Buhari, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu commended his colleagues for his election saying he did not offer himself for the post, “but you refused to take my no for an answer.”
He, however, told his colleagues that, “I am truly humbled and pledge to serve and work with all of you to deliver on peace, security, good governance and socio-economic development” of the sub-region, and “take our organisation to greater heights.”
Buhari also commended his immediate predecessor, President Gnassingbe for successfully hosting two important meetings of the Joint Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and ECOWAS, as well as the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
He was presented with the Emblem of ECOWAS by the outgoing chairman, while the next meeting of the organisation would take place in Abuja on December 21, 2018.
Preceding the Heads of State summit was a joint summit between ECOWAS and the Central African bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
A communique issued at the close of the summit said its aim “was to create conditions for sustainable peace and a secured environment in the common area of the two regions.”
At the heart of deliberations were: security, peace and stability and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. The African Union chief, Moussa Faki Mahamat was also in attendance.
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad.
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