The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened a crucial Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Sunday.
The leaders met to solidify the regional response to the recent, quickly thwarted coup attempt in the Republic of Benin.
Though no longer the ECOWAS Chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu played a key role in the summit, which comes just days after Nigerian military assets were deployed, to quell the attempted military takeover in neighboring Benin.
The attempted coup on December 7, in which a group of soldiers briefly seized the national television station and attempted to dissolve the government, was a major agenda item.
President Patrice Talon of Benin was present at the summit, where the leaders discussed the incident and the future of constitutional rule in the volatile West African sub-region.
ECOWAS, which has struggled to contain a rash of successful military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger over the past few years, hailed the swift and decisive intervention in Benin as a vital victory for regional democracy.
Nigeria’s rapid response, deploying Air Force jets and troops as part of the ECOWAS Standby Force, was widely praised by the regional body and the Benin government.
Foreign Minister of Benin, Olushegun Bakari, had previously indicated that the request for external support was made not due to the Beninese army’s incapacity, but to ensure a “surgical operation” that minimized the risk of civilian casualties.
Beyond the Benin crisis, the 68th Ordinary Session focused on the future of the Community, reviewing regional political, security and economic conditions.
Also the agenda was; advancing trade and economic integration, and assessing rising insecurity marked by persistent military interventions and expanding terrorist threats across West Africa.
The current ECOWAS Chair, President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone, led the closed-door discussions, which featured leaders and representatives from a majority of the member states.
The summit’s outcome is expected to include firm resolutions on strengthening the ECOWAS Standby Force and enforcing the bloc’s zero-tolerance policy for unconstitutional changes of government.
