The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as its candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
The endorsement was reached during a high-level ECOWAS meeting, marking a significant boost to President Mahama’s continental bid and positioning him as West Africa’s preferred candidate for the influential role.
The decision follows earlier backing from ECOWAS foreign affairs ministers, who threw their support behind President Mahama at a ministerial meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria. Their recommendation paved the way for the final endorsement by the bloc’s heads of state.
President Mahama, who previously served as Chair of ECOWAS, is widely regarded as an experienced statesman with deep knowledge of regional diplomacy, conflict resolution, and governance. Supporters within the sub-region believe his leadership experience places him in a strong position to advance Africa’s integration agenda and strengthen the African Union’s response to security and development challenges.
The African Union Chairperson is elected by member states and plays a central role in coordinating the AU’s policies, representing the continent internationally, and promoting peace and stability across Africa.
With ECOWAS’ unanimous endorsement secured, attention is now expected to shift to broader continental consultations ahead of the AU elections.
