The Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament officially commenced its 2026 legislative year on Monday with a high-level parliamentary seminar and the opening of its First Extraordinary Session.
Presiding over the assembly, Her Excellency Mrs. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, President of the ECOWAS Parliament, outlined a robust agenda centered on economic integration, democratic consolidation, and regional security for the 400 million citizens of the West African bloc.
Driving Integration through AfCFTA
The centerpiece of the session is a seminar titled “Deepening Regional Integration through the AfCFTA: Opportunities and Challenges for Expanding Intra-Community Trade.” President Ibrahima emphasized that while ECOWAS has maintained a steady 5% growth rate over the last decade, intra-regional trade remains stagnantly below 10%.
”Our responsibility is clear: to make the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a lever for structural transformation,” Ibrahima stated. She noted that while the region possesses a massive demographic asset in its youth, it continues to struggle with an underdeveloped industrial base and an over-reliance on raw material exports like cocoa and cotton.
Democratic Milestones and Security Concerns
The President addressed the political landscape of the region, specifically welcoming the lifting of sanctions against Guinea following the December 2025 presidential elections. She offered congratulations to President Mamadi Doumbouya and signaled the Parliament’s support for upcoming 2026 elections in Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Benin.
However, the address turned somber regarding regional safety. Ibrahima described “security solidarity” as an obligation rather than an option, calling for the effective deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force and enhanced intelligence sharing to combat the persistent threats of terrorism and transnational crime.
2026 Strategic Priorities
As the Parliament prepares to adopt its 2026 Annual Work Plan, the leadership identified three core pillars for the year:
- Democratic Governance: Upholding the rule of law and ensuring credible electoral processes across Member States.
- Peace and Security: Strengthening cooperation to stabilize regions threatened by violent extremism.
- Gender Leadership: Moving beyond the current 30% quota for women in parliamentary delegations toward “meaningful and transformative participation” through the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA).
President Ibrahima concluded by urging parliamentarians to move beyond advocacy to “measurable action,” ensuring that the benefits of integration reach the everyday citizen.
