Abuja: Angola's ambassador to Nigeria, Jos© Bam³quina ZAU, represented Angola at the 50th anniversary jubilee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The event is particularly significant as the region faces the challenge of restructuring due to the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, who have formed the Alliance of Sahel States.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the celebrations were presided over by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Acting ECOWAS' and Nigeria President, under the theme '50 Years of Strength, Resilience and Power'. The event marked the launch of regional strategies to address issues such as unconstitutional changes, terrorism, insurgency, regional integration, and the establishment of a quick response armed forces command.
Angola is currently a candidate for ECOWAS observer membership, with a decision expected at the Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for July in Lom©. This candidacy aims to strengthen political and diplomatic ties between Angola, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and ECOWAS, focusing on security, regional integration, and free trade.
Established by the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975, the Economic Community of West African States aims to promote trade, political cooperation, development, and regional integration. It includes fifteen member countries from the West African region: Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
In addition to speeches by Acting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Commission President Omar Allieu Touray, the celebrations on Wednesday also included speeches by the Surviving Founding Father of ECOWAS, General Yakubu Gowon, 3rd Head of State of Nigeria (1966-1975), who at the age of 91 highlighted peace, security and democratic consolidation as the main pillars of the construction of the West African Community.
