Liberian President Joseph Boakai is set to travel to Abuja, Nigeria today to participate in the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, as reported by The PUNCH.
The high-level regional summit comes at a critical juncture, as West African nations grapple with a range of political, economic, and security challenges.
According to an official statement, President Boakai will be accompanied by a delegation that includes key members of his administration, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance, and the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company.
During the two-day summit, President Boakai and his counterparts from the 15 ECOWAS member states are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including regional security, economic integration, and the bloc's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
One of the key agenda items is likely to be the ongoing political crisis in Mali, where a military junta has been resisting international pressure to restore civilian rule.
The summit may also address the rise of violent extremism in the Sahel region, which has spilled over into parts of coastal West Africa, posing a serious threat to regional stability.
On the economic front, the leaders are expected to review the progress made in implementing the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), both of which are seen as crucial for boosting intra-regional trade and investment.
In the absence of President Boakai, the Liberian government has announced that the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff, Sylvester M. Grigsby, will chair the Cabinet and work in consultation with the President.
The Liberian delegation is expected to return to Monrovia on Monday, July 8th, after the conclusion of the ECOWAS summit.