Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders Meet To Discuss Benin Coup, Other Regional Crisis

Report on Tinubu, ECOWAS Leaders Meet to Discuss Benin Coup and Other Regional Crises

On December 14, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, attended the 68th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government. The meeting was held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. This marked the first time Tinubu led the Nigerian delegation at an ECOWAS summit hosted on home soil. The gathering was convened to deliberate on pressing regional challenges, including political instability, security threats, and economic integration, with particular focus on recent military takeovers in Benin Republic and Guinea-Bissau.

Key Agenda Items

The summit featured a Special Debate on the Future of the Community, reflecting ECOWAS’s concern about the sustainability of democracy and regional cooperation. Leaders discussed the 2025 Annual Report on the State of the Community, which provided updates on political transitions, economic performance, and security developments across member states. A major highlight was the deliberation on the recent coups in Benin Republic and Guinea-Bissau, which have raised alarm about the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa.

Security cooperation was another central theme, with leaders reviewing mediation efforts and strategies to counter terrorism, insurgency, and organized crime. The progress of Guinea’s political transition was also assessed, alongside a review of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which aims to strengthen economic integration and reduce trade barriers within the region.

Political and Diplomatic Developments

The summit underscored ECOWAS’s role as a stabilizing force in West Africa. Discussions emphasized the need for stronger collective action against military takeovers, which threaten democratic governance and regional stability. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to mediation and dialogue as tools for resolving political crises.

Additionally, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers had earlier endorsed President John Mahama of Ghana as the region’s sole candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union when the rotational slot comes to West Africa in 2027. This decision reflects ECOWAS’s broader diplomatic strategy to ensure strong representation at continental leadership levels.

Expected Outcomes

The summit was expected to conclude with the adoption of a final communiqué, outlining resolutions and commitments made by member states. A joint press conference was scheduled to follow, where leaders would present unified positions on the future of ECOWAS, regional security, and economic cooperation.

Let’s Take A Break

The 68th ECOWAS Ordinary Session in Abuja highlighted the urgency of addressing political instability in West Africa, particularly the coups in Benin Republic and Guinea-Bissau. Under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria reaffirmed its role as a key player in regional diplomacy and integration. The summit’s outcomes are anticipated to shape ECOWAS’s approach to safeguarding democracy, enhancing security cooperation, and deepening economic ties among member states.