Heads of state and government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been meeting in the Nigerian capital amid a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the future of the grouping.
A part of the meeting is dedicated to future of regional integration, after the announcement on Saturday by the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA) of the opening of its borders to ECOWAS nationals.
The ESA comprises Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, three members who announced they were quitting the bloc because of a perceived political interference from France.
West African leaders are examining the annual reports on the state of the grouping, the activities of its Mediation and Security Council, as well as those of the Council of Ministers.
Discussions are also planned on specific issues, including the political transition in Guinea. However, the central issue remains the planned withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, members of the ESA, from the regional organisation.
To this end, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Faure Gnassingbé, senior facilitators, will present a report on their recent mediation missions to these countries.
Faced with these tensions, ECOWAS is facing a crucial challenge to preserve its integration project, against the backdrop of security and economic crises in the West African sub-region.
AC/Sf/gg/as/APA