President declares the 52nd ECOWAS Summit open in Abuja

dimeji akinloye

December 16, 2017 3:21 PM

The West African Heads of State are expected to discuss the political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau, the association agreement with Mauritania among others.

President

Heads of State across West Africa are in the country for the summit.

They are expected to discuss, among other things, the political and security situation in Guinea-Bissau, the observer status of Tunisia and an association agreement with Mauritania.

The Mauritanian President, Mohamed Abdel Aziz and his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi are special guests at the meeting.

Also, the proposed membership of Morocco to the body among the matters to be discussed, but reports said a final decision is not expected until 2018.

ALSO READ: FG asks ECOWAS to throw out Nnamdi Kanu's suit

The political stalemate in Guinea-Bissau is discussed as President Jose Mario Vaz has refused to appoint the Prime Minister nominated by the ruling PAIGC party (who have won the required number of seats in Parliament to determine the nomination for the Prime Minister post).

The ruling party faction and President Vaz are also at the Summit to break the deadlock as negotiations which are being moderated by President Buhari continue inside the Congress Hall.

dimeji akinloye