ECOWAS stands today at a crossroads, not because of a foreign threat or the spread of coups that have destabilised parts of West Africa, but because internal decisions taken at the top of its administrative structure now threaten the organisation’s integrity. At a time when the region needs stability, principled leadership and restoration of public confidence, the conduct of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, has placed an avoidable burden on ECOWAS and, by extension, on his home country, The Gambia. What should have been a routine administrative matter has escalated into a governance crisis that now demands diplomatic intervention at the highest level. The Gambia must now act, not only to save ECOWAS but also to protect its own long earned reputation.
The crisis stems from a memo issued on 30 October 2025 in which Dr Touray allegedly revoked all delegated authority from a Nigerian Commissioner, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, without involving the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. The organisation’s governing instruments are clear about the process for disciplining or sanctioning Commissioners: only the Council of Ministers, as the appointing authority, can do so. The matter is now before the ECOWAS Court of Justice. If the Court confirms the allegations, the action would not merely be a lapse in judgement, but a violation of the established legal order that binds members of the Commission. An internal violation at this level carries consequences far beyond administrative housekeeping. It affects trust, morale and the stability of decision making across the institution.
The situation has been made worse by the concentration of authority within the Commission. Both the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Director of the Cabinet, Mr Abdou Kolley, are citizens of The Gambia. In normal circumstances this might go unnoticed, but the context here is troubling, especially given allegations that the President attempted to allocate Commissioner level responsibilities to another appointee from The Gambia. Whether or not this was deliberate, the perception it creates is damaging. Diplomacy operates as much on perception as on fact. When the two most powerful administrative positions in the Commission are held by nationals of the same country, and allegations subsequently emerge that additional functions were being channelled towards another national of that same country, concern becomes inevitable.
This concern is not limited to internal ECOWAS circles. It is growing across the region. The Gambia, a country celebrated for diplomatic restraint, moderation and respect for process, is now being viewed in an uncomfortable light, not because of any act by its people or government, but because of decisions taken at the top of the Commission. This situation places an unfair burden on The Gambia’s reputation. A nation should not be judged by the actions of one official. It falls to President Adama Barrow to correct the perception and restore equilibrium.
The implications go beyond reputation. Nigeria, whose Commissioner was affected by the alleged unilateral action, is the pillar of ECOWAS. Without Nigeria, ECOWAS would not exist in its current form. Nigeria funds nearly 90 percent of ECOWAS operations. Nigeria provides the bulk of the military manpower for peacekeeping. Nigeria has repeatedly intervened to save member states from collapse. From Liberia to Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia itself and even beyond, Nigeria has always acted as the stabilising force of the subregion.
When President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia refused to step down after losing the 2016 election, it was Nigeria that stood firmly behind the ECOWAS position that the democratic will of the Gambian people must prevail. Nigeria provided the diplomatic weight, the military reinforcement, the negotiation leverage and the political determination that ultimately secured the transition of power. It was Nigeria that deployed troops under the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia to ensure that peace was maintained. Nigeria has trained Gambian civil servants, supported Gambian police and military institutions, supplied judges, and extended consistent economic and development assistance. Historically, whenever The Gambia has needed help, Nigeria has answered without reluctance. This is the context within which the current tension must be understood.
Therefore, any action that appears to undermine a Nigerian Commissioner carries profound implications. Nigeria is not merely another member state. It is the engine of the regional body. Its leadership is fundamental to ECOWAS survival. A move against a Nigerian representative, especially one alleged to have sidestepped procedure, is a move that risks injuring the very foundation of regional cooperation. It is not surprising that this matter has generated so much concern. It touches on respect, equity and balance within the regional family.
The timing also amplifies the danger. ECOWAS is already weakened. Three member states have withdrawn from the Community. A political transition in another has stalled. Insecurity and violent extremism persist. Public enthusiasm for regional integration has cooled. More than ever, ECOWAS needs to demonstrate unity and respect for its own rules. When internal governance falters, external credibility collapses. If ECOWAS cannot maintain order inside its own leadership structure, how can it demand constitutional order from countries in crisis? If it cannot resolve basic internal disputes lawfully, how can it claim the authority to intervene in the internal affairs of member states?
The December statutory meetings in Abuja will be crucial. Ministers, diplomats and Heads of State will gather to discuss the security of the region, relations with the Alliance of Sahel States, trade concerns and the future of the organisation. Yet instead of entering these meetings with moral clarity, ECOWAS now risks walking in with a cloud over its leadership. The Gambia has the power to prevent this. A decisive step by President Barrow would dispel doubts, calm tensions and restore focus to the key issues that matter to the region.
A recall of the ECOWAS Commission President is not a punishment. It is a diplomatic safeguard. It protects The Gambia from carrying the weight of an internal controversy. It reassures Nigeria and other member states that fairness remains a central value. It stabilises the internal workings of the Commission ahead of critical deliberations. It restores the sense of balance that ECOWAS needs to function effectively. And it affirms a principle that must never be compromised: that no official, however highly placed, is above the rules.
The Gambia must act boldly and promptly. The region is watching. The credibility of ECOWAS is at stake. The respect owed to Nigeria must not be diminished. An organisation that has weathered wars, coups and political upheavals cannot be derailed by internal missteps that could easily have been prevented. For the sake of regional harmony, institutional integrity and diplomatic prudence, it is time for The Gambia to intervene. The honour of the region and the future of ECOWAS demand no less.
● Jimmy Udo is a volunteer at Make A Difference Initiative.
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