Nigerian president re-elected as ECOWAS chairperson Amid regional turbulence

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been unanimously re-elected for a second term as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The decision was made at the ongoing ECOWAS summit in Abuja, reflecting confidence in Tinubu's leadership during a period of significant regional challenges, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Tinubu's re-election comes as the organization faces substantial upheaval. Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their joint decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. The countries cited the bloc's alleged influence by foreign powers and its perceived threat to member states and their peoples as primary reasons for their departure. This move reduces the number of ECOWAS member states from 15 to 12.

In light of these developments, ECOWAS leaders have opted to maintain Tinubu's chairmanship for an additional year, extending his term to oversee the community's response to these challenges. The extension aims to ensure continuity and stability within the organization as it navigates this critical juncture.

In a related development, the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened on July 6 to announce the formation of a new confederation of Sahel states.