West African leaders have gathered in Abuja for a high-level ECOWAS summit amid renewed security concerns following an attempted coup in the Republic of Benin and lingering instability across the region.
President Bola Tinubu is participating in the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government through Vice President, Kashim Shettima. Tinubu, a former ECOWAS Chairman, is expected to play a key role in discussions on regional security and democratic governance.
The meeting, chaired by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Bio, opened Sunday at the State House Conference Centre and includes a special debate on the future of the bloc. Leaders in attendance include Presidents Patrice Talon (Benin), Alassane Ouattara (Côte d’Ivoire), John Mahama (Ghana), Joseph Boakai (Liberia), Bassirou Diomaye Faye (Senegal), and Faure Gnassingbé (Togo), among others.
Key agenda items include the coup attempt in Benin, political developments in Guinea-Bissau, the 2025 State of the Community report, updates from the Mediation and Security Council, and regional economic integration efforts.
The summit follows years of upheaval marked by military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which later withdrew from ECOWAS, weakening regional cohesion.
After the December 7, 2025 coup attempt in Benin, Nigeria deployed troops and military assets to support the government, a move approved by the Senate. Benin’s stability is seen as vital to regional trade and security, particularly for Nigeria.
Leaders are also expected to consider stronger security cooperation and reforms aimed at restoring stability and confidence in the ECOWAS bloc.
