Presidents Emballo and Buhari at the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2022

The President of Guinea Bissau, current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Umaro Sissoco Emballo, and the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, co-presided over the opening of the Second Ordinary Session 2022 of the ECOWAS Parliament on Monday, 28 November 2022 in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. 

In his opening speech, President Emballo called on African states to show greater solidarity in addressing the problems that affect the whole continent. These problems, these problems, he said, include health, food, democratic, sustainable development and immigration crises and the adverse effects of climate change.

President Buhari, for his part, commended the efforts of the ECOWAS Parliament in promoting regional integration, strengthening democracy and good governance. He also reassured Parliamentarians of Nigeria’s commitment to continue supporting ECOWAS’ efforts to restore democracy in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

As for the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, in his address, he stated that the ECOWAS 2023 consolidated budget, which is the subject of this Ordinary Session, is designed to meet the needs of the region’s populations.

As is customary during ordinary sessions of the ECOWAS Parliament, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, and the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Edward Amoako Asante, each delivered a message in which they called for greater solidarity between the Institutions of the community.

During the opening ceremony, other distinguished guests took the floor. These were the President of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira, and the President of the Moroccan Chamber of Councillors, Naam Miyara.