By Fortune Abang
Mahmoud Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), has commended ECOWAS for acting decisively as a guardian of peace and a builder of dialogue amidst regional challenges.
Represented by the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, Selma Haddadi, Youssouf made the remarks during the 50th anniversary celebration of ECOWAS on Wednesday in Lagos.
The Chairperson described the anniversary as a momentous milestone marking 50 years of perseverance, purpose, and progress in Africa’s collective journey.
“Fifty years ago, ECOWAS emerged from the bold imagination of visionary leaders who understood, long before many others, that Africa’s strength would be forged not in fragmentation, but in unity,” he said.
Youssouf added, “They knew that our economic liberation could not be achieved in isolation and that our sovereignty would only be meaningful if defended collectively.
“Today, we gather not only to mark the passage of time but to honour bold vision, ambitious and enduring.
“The vision of a united West Africa, where borders yield to bonds of solidarity, and sovereignty is strengthened through shared purpose.
“This vision is embodied in ECOWAS. Amid political challenges, pandemics, economic disruptions, and the shifting tides of globalisation, ECOWAS has remained steadfast.
“Not without trials but never without resolve. In the face of adversity, ECOWAS has not stood idle; it has acted decisively as a guardian of peace and a builder of dialogue.”
He recalled that when internal conflicts threatened to tear nations apart, ECOWAS, through ECOMOG, did not merely intervene as a regional bloc but rose as a moral force, defending human dignity and upholding the promise of peace.
“ECOWAS interventions have been shaped by conviction, not convenience.
“Today, ECOWAS’s role as a first responder to political crises has solidified its standing not only as a cornerstone of West African stability but as a vital pillar within the broader continental architecture.
“Its swift diplomatic actions, operational agility, and principled stance on governance have greatly enriched the African Union’s capacity to respond to emergent threats.
“In ECOWAS, Africa finds not just a regional organisation but a credible voice anchored in the values of unity, justice, and enduring peace. But peace, while precious, is not enough,” he said.
He described ECOWAS’s achievements in economic integration as remarkable, from the seamless mobility of people and goods to the implementation of a common external tariff.
“Also notable are a unified biometric identity system and the harmonisation of trade regulations within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“These demonstrate ECOWAS’s political will and institutional courage.”
Youssouf identified ECOWAS’s alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as strategic and visionary, reflecting a deep understanding that demands patience and precision, solidarity and sacrifice.
“As we celebrate, we must not lose sight of the sobering realities that define our present. We are living through a time of profound uncertainty, where the anchors of yesterday no longer guarantee stability today.
“Geopolitical tensions are escalating, climate change is reshaping the contours of vulnerability across our region, economic disparities are deepening, and in many societies, the social contract is under visible strain. These are not minor hurdles.
“They are seismic challenges that test the very fabric of our institutions at all levels and the convictions of our leadership.
“In such a climate, retreat may seem tempting, but history has shown us that the African spirit does not yield to despair, it rises.
“This is the time to double down on solidarity, to reaffirm the values that brought us here, and to chart the course for the next fifty years with boldness, clarity, and unity of purpose.
“Let us be reminded that for the AU, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are the cornerstone and building blocks of African integration, and ECOWAS has consistently led by example. ECOWAS’s journey is not only West Africa’s legacy, it is Africa’s mirror.”
He explained that ECOWAS reflected Africa’s capacity to transcend colonial borders, build consensus in diversity, and craft solutions rooted in our own wisdom, urging the community to foresee and forestall challenges.
“It must be community-driven, not just by resilience, but foresight, one where innovation fuels inclusive growth and where women and youth are not peripheral stakeholders but central architects of policy and progress.
“Let us imagine a region where digital transformation becomes a tool for equity, not exclusion, bridging divides and unlocking the full potential of our people.
“Above all, let us reaffirm our unwavering belief in the African future, boldly, fiercely, and without apology.
“We at the African Union remain committed to walking this path with you, not behind you, not in front of you, but beside you. As long as ECOWAS thrives, Africa thrives, and when Africa thrives, we all move forward.
“Let the next fifty years be defined not by the limitations of our time, but by the limitless possibilities of our collective will,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
