Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president, has been elected by West African heads of state to assume leadership of the regional bloc ECOWAS in the coming year. He will be succeeding Umaro Sissoco Embalo, the leader of Guinea-Bissau.
Following his appointment as president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Tinubu reportedly addressed a summit in Bissau, where he expressed his belief that democracy is the best form of government. However, he acknowledged the inherent difficulties in managing it.
In his new role as the head of ECOWAS, Tinubu also pledged to take a tough stance against any political coups occurring in West Africa.
Since 2020, three ECOWAS member countries, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, have collectively experienced five coups.
Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS commission, appealed to the ruling juntas in the three countries countries to adhere to the agreed-upon deadlines for transitioning power to civilian leaders.
I’m grateful to my distinguished colleagues for the honour of being elected as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the 63rd Ordinary Session that took place today in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.… pic.twitter.com/o7uuqME2Kh
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) July 9, 2023