H.E. General Birame Diop

By Chibuike Nwabuko

ABUIA (PRECISE POST) – The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) aimed at strengthening the preparation, deployment and management of the African Standby Force (ASF).

Diop signed the agreement on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission during the Fifth Policy Session of the Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention (I-RECKE), held in El Alamein, Egypt, on October 3, 2026.

The session took place on the margins of the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting.

According to the ECOWAS Commission, the MoU provides a framework clarifying the respective roles and responsibilities of the AU and RECs/RMs in the preparation, employment, deployment and post-deployment of the African Standby Force.

The arrangement brings together regional standby forces that can be mandated by the African Union to undertake Peace Support Operations and respond to complex emergency situations across the continent.

The agreement is expected to enhance coordination between the continental body and Africa’s regional organisations in responding to emerging conflicts, crises and other threats to peace and security.

Other signatories to the MoU included the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), North African Regional Capacity (NARC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Precise Post recalls that the signing underscores ongoing efforts by African regional institutions to strengthen collective security mechanisms and improve the continent’s capacity to prevent and respond to conflicts.

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.

By Clement Nwabuko

ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, has called for renewed regional solidarity, stronger international partnerships and accelerated integration as West Africa grapples with growing security, economic and geopolitical challenges.

According to the statement released on the official X handle of the Commission on Tuesday, Diop made the call on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a high-level engagement with Ambassadors, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, development partners and representatives of international organisations in Abuja.

The meeting brought together members of the diplomatic community and development partners alongside the new management of the ECOWAS Commission to reaffirm the importance of sustained international cooperation in advancing the Community’s regional integration agenda.

Speaking at the engagement, Diop described regional integration as critical to the future of West Africa, stressing that it was essential for building a prosperous, resilient and inclusive region.
“Regional integration is not merely an option; it is a strategic necessity. It is the most effective pathway towards building a prosperous, resilient and inclusive West Africa,” he said.

The ECOWAS Commission President expressed appreciation to the organisation’s diplomatic and development partners for their longstanding support throughout the Community’s 50-year history.

According to him, the partnerships have contributed significantly to ECOWAS’ efforts in peace and security, democratic governance, regional integration, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance and institutional strengthening.

Diop, however, noted that ECOWAS was entering a new chapter amid profound global uncertainty, characterised by geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, climate-related shocks and disruptions to global supply chains.

He said the challenges underscored the need for stronger cooperation and renewed commitment to regional integration.

The engagement with the diplomatic community formed part of the ECOWAS Commission’s efforts to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of regional cooperation as the organisation enters a new phase of institutional development.

Precise Post recalls that the Commission reaffirmed the importance of working closely with international partners to address emerging challenges and advance the collective interests of the West African region.