Registrieren

There are moments when geography, leadership and history converge to create opportunities larger than the individuals who occupy political office. West Africa may be approaching such a moment. With President Bassirou Diomaye Faye now chairing ECOWAS and President John Dramani Mahama expected to assume the African Union chairmanship in 2027, two West African leaders will simultaneously occupy influential positions in Africa's regional and continental architecture. This coincidence should not be overstated. Neither office confers unlimited authority. Yet leadership matters, particularly at a time when both ECOWAS and the African Union face profound questions about relevance, legitimacy and effectiveness. President Faye assumes the ECOWAS chairmanship during one of the most difficult periods in the organisation's history. The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger has reshaped West Africa's political landscape. Meanwhile, terrorism, economic pressures, climate vulnerability and declining trust in institutions continue to test the region.