By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has used the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York to advance regional unity, political stability and economic integration.
The ECOWAS delegation, led by the President of the Commission, General Birame Diop, participated in the General Assembly, held from September 22 to 27, 2026, in New York, United States.
According to a statement released on the ECOWAS X handle on Monday, the delegation also held a series of high-level meetings and consultations with world leaders, senior diplomats and international officials on the sidelines of the UNGA.
The delegation comprised Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Francess Piagie Alghali; ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Kinza Jawara-Njai; Director of External Relations, Jérôme Boa; Director of Political Affairs, Dr Babatunde Tolu Afolabi; and Political Adviser to the Observer Mission to the United Nations, Esther Daramola.
The Commission said its engagements included discussions with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed; UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix; Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, Rosemary DiCarlo; and UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa.
The ECOWAS delegation also met the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf; President of the ECCAS Commission, Ezechiel Nibigira; Head of the United Nations Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Simao; and the African Union Chairperson’s Special Envoy for the Sahel, Mamadou Tangara.
Other engagements were held with European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Sikela, and the Head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office, Elizabeth Spehar.
The ECOWAS Commission said the meetings provided opportunities to discuss issues relating to peace, security, political stability, regional cooperation and integration in West Africa.
The delegation was also received by Nigeria’s Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, who, according to ECOWAS, urged the new leadership of the regional bloc to prioritise unity and regional integration.
The Commission said the engagements formed part of efforts to strengthen ECOWAS’ regional and international partnerships while advancing its objectives of promoting peace, stability and economic integration across West Africa.
