Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence from ECOWAS Member States are convening in Nigeria for the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level. The meeting is taking place at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja.
The previous MSC meeting, the 52nd session held in July, focused on regional security, political issues, and the promotion of democratic transitions and peaceful elections across member states.
The 53rd Ordinary Session is chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar. In his opening remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in the West African region but expressed concerns over the withdrawal intentions of three member states as ECOWAS approaches its golden jubilee. Touray urged member states to recommit to the core values of the organization.
The session will address several key issues, including the political and security situations in the region, humanitarian concerns, and the establishment of a special tribunal for human rights abuses.
Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar commended Ghana for holding a peaceful election and emphasized the importance of political stability in fostering development. He urged ECOWAS members to intensify efforts toward promoting peace and regional cooperation, especially in tackling security challenges. Tuggar also highlighted the need to sustain the fight against terrorism amid increasing attacks in the region.
On the humanitarian front, he stressed the importance of supporting communities affected by insecurity and natural disasters, such as flooding. Additionally, he called for strengthened efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing both within ECOWAS and across Africa.
Tuggar also praised the progress made in maritime security, noting that there were no significant maritime infractions recorded in 2024 within the ECOWAS maritime domain.
Regarding the operationalization of the ECOWAS Standby Force, Tuggar indicated that updates would be provided during the meeting.
