African Bar Association Congratulates Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on ECOWAS Chairmanship, Calls for Reconciliation
The African Bar Association (AFBA) has officially congratulated the President of Senegal, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on assuming the Chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.
In a statement issued on August 28, 2026, signed by AFBA President High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark and transmitted through the Senegalese Embassy in Nigeria, the legal body highlighted the critical timing of President Faye’s new regional role amid ongoing governance, security, and integration challenges in West Africa.The AFBA outlined key priority areas for the new ECOWAS leadership:
- Reconciliation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES): The association called on President Faye to prioritize restoring dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Urging an approach grounded in fairness, diplomacy, and mutual respect, the AFBA emphasized that West Africa must avoid permanent division and uphold the vision established by ECOWAS’s 1975 founding leaders.
- Rule of Law and Good Governance: The group advocated for constitutionalism, human rights, and the principled, consistent enforcement of regional standards across all member states to maintain ECOWAS’s credibility with West African citizens.
- Free Movement and Economic Integration: The AFBA urged the removal of unlawful and arbitrary barriers that hinder trade, business, and the free movement of goods, services, and people across borders.
- Regional Solidarity: The statement highlighted the need to strengthen support mechanisms for countries facing economic, security, and developmental strain, proposing expanded practical cooperation in sectors like healthcare, energy, infrastructure, and justice.
The association also announced that it was recently granted special consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Reaffirming its commitment to regional stability, the AFBA extended a formal offer of partnership to ECOWAS to support peace, justice, and regional integration efforts during President Faye’s tenure.
