ECOWAS moves to fill key vacancies following Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso withdrawal

Coronavirus: ECOWAS orders staff to work from home

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is seeking to fill critical managerial positions within the regional bloc, following the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from several institutional roles.

This was as ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) convened an extraordinary session in Abuja to review vacant managerial positions and assess the recruitment process within the regional bloc.

The Commission is also seeking to address institutional gaps created by the withdrawal of member states under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The two-day meeting, held from 29 to 30 November 2025 at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, brought together representatives from all remaining Member States.

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Delegates assessed the progress made so far in filling strategic vacancies across the institution and discussed steps to build a more efficient and financially sustainable Community administration.

In her welcome address, Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the urgency of the AFC’s support in ensuring the timely implementation of the ongoing recruitment plan.

She noted that the exercise is unfolding at a difficult moment for the bloc, with ECOWAS facing a sharp drop of nearly 20 per cent in its Community Levy and persistent challenges in revenue collection.

Tchintchibidja stressed that the fiscal strain underscores the need for transparent and strategic recruitment that aligns with ECOWAS priorities, ensuring that each appointment strengthens the Commission’s ability to deliver effectively on its mandate to West African citizens.

Declaring the session open, Komba Momoh, Chairman of the AFC and Head of the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone, said the committee would analyse a detailed memorandum on the pace and status of the recruitment process for vacant managerial roles.

Speaking on behalf of Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone’s President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, as well as Timothy Kabbah, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, Momoh reaffirmed the commitment of West African leaders to ensuring that the vacant positions are filled promptly, based on merit and with equitable regional representation.

He noted that refilling the roles left open after the exit of AES countries is critical to stabilising the institution, maintaining operational efficiency and safeguarding years of progress in regional integration, despite the political and financial challenges currently confronting the bloc.

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