Abuja, Nigeria, July 9, 2024 — The tenure of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government has been extended by the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The announcement came during the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, held at the Conference Centre of State House in Abuja.
Accepting the extension, President Tinubu pledged to continue serving the West African leaders with dedication and to build on the region’s existing democratic values. “I will continue to lead in the service with my utmost best to serve our interest and build on democratic value and build on the structure that we inherit,” he stated.
President Tinubu’s initial tenure as Chairman expired on July 9, 2024. He was first elected to the position during the 63rd Ordinary Session of the regional bloc held in July of the previous year in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau.
Throughout his tenure, President Tinubu has underscored the alarming levels of insecurity and the rising pattern of military coups in the region. He stressed the need for urgent and collective efforts from all member states to address these issues. Tinubu committed to harmonizing existing regional frameworks to counter unconstitutional regime changes and to mobilize resources and political will for counterterrorism initiatives.
In response to the military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea, ECOWAS, under Tinubu’s leadership, announced economic sanctions isolating these nations. The bloc suspended all commercial and financial transactions between its current members and the junta-led states and froze their assets at the ECOWAS Central Bank. It also demanded the release of former Nigerien President Mohammad Bazoum and insisted on a clear timetable to restore constitutional order in Niger, threatening to activate a standby force if these demands were not met.
Despite these measures, the junta-led states have remained defiant, moving further away from ECOWAS’ demands.