By Spy Uganda
The 66th summit of ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, is getting underway with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger notably absent.
These three coup-hit nations have severed ties with the bloc, accusing it of unfair coup-related sanctions.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is chairing the meeting.
Among the topics on the agenda are regional security challenges and the payment of community levies by member states.
Ministers are also expected to discuss the implementation of the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme, which entails the free movement of people and goods.
Currently headed by Nigeria, ECOWAS is more important than ever, with the region’s stability being thrown into danger by coups and security crises.
The bloc was founded in 1975 with around a dozen members, including Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and the Gambia.
It has since become the region’s leading political authority.
