West African leaders have renewed support for the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline, describing it as a strategic project to strengthen regional energy security and economic integration…reports Africa Daily News Desk
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its support for the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) with Morocco, describing the cross-border energy project as a key driver of regional energy security, industrialisation and economic integration.
The commitment was announced in the final communiqué issued after the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, under the chairmanship of Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio.
The regional bloc welcomed the signing of the intergovernmental agreement on the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline and reaffirmed its support for the initiative, saying it would strengthen energy security, promote industrial development and contribute to sustainable economic growth across West Africa.
ECOWAS also praised the cooperation between its member states and Morocco in advancing the project, noting that the pipeline has the potential to improve regional connectivity, expand access to energy, attract investment and help deliver the objectives of the bloc’s Vision 2050 development agenda.
Alongside its backing for the pipeline, ECOWAS directed its Commission to urgently prepare a comprehensive portfolio of regional infrastructure projects that are ready for investment and capable of attracting financing from regional and international development institutions, sovereign wealth funds, private investors and other partners.
The Commission was instructed to prioritise projects in transport, energy, digital connectivity and water infrastructure, while presenting annual progress reports on project preparation, financing and implementation.
The summit also reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to launching the ECO single currency in 2027, with the currency initially being adopted by member states that meet the agreed convergence criteria. Countries not yet ready to join will receive support to facilitate their eventual participation.
Leaders further reiterated their commitment to the free movement of people and goods across the region, calling it a cornerstone of West African integration and urging that ongoing discussions with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) preserve regional mobility, trade and economic cooperation.
On security, the bloc expressed concern over the worsening terrorist threat in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, endorsed the roadmap for deploying the ECOWAS regional counter-terrorism force by July 2027 and appealed for greater international financial support to strengthen regional security efforts.
