By Ameh Gabriel
In a renewed demonstration of African solidarity and institutional partnership, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, paid a high-level courtesy visit to H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, on Tuesday, June 11, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting, held at the African Union Headquarters, brought together two of the continent’s foremost regional leaders. Their discussions were described as strategic and future-focused, centering on pressing priorities such as peace and security in West Africa and the Sahel, regional integration, and the development of sustainable funding models for African-led peace operations.
Dr. Touray reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to closer collaboration with the AU in promoting democratic governance, peace, and economic integration throughout the continent.
“This visit goes beyond symbolism it reflects our collective commitment to safeguarding regional stability and securing a prosperous future for all Africans,” Dr. Touray said.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf welcomed the ECOWAS leader with a message of solidarity, commending the bloc’s efforts in advancing peace and unity across West Africa.
“ECOWAS is a vital pillar of the African Union’s vision for a peaceful and integrated continent. We deeply value this partnership and fully support its mission,” Youssouf remarked.
Both leaders underscored the importance of aligning ECOWAS initiatives with the African Union’s broader Agenda 2063 and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). They stressed the urgent need to stabilize the Sahel a region facing persistent insecurity, political instability, and humanitarian crises.
A key point of discussion was the mobilization of innovative and sustainable financing for African-led peace operations. The leaders emphasized the need for homegrown solutions to African challenges, calling for deeper institutional collaboration, shared platforms, and coordinated engagement in global diplomatic spaces.
This strategic engagement marks a significant milestone in strengthening inter-regional cooperation at a time when Africa confronts complex transnational threats. The meeting also signals a renewed commitment by both ECOWAS and the AU to jointly address the continent’s security and development challenges through unified and proactive leadership.
