The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Russia have announced plans to establish a strategic partnership focused on strengthening security and advancing development in West Africa.
The announcement was made during the second Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, hosted in the Egyptian capital Cairo.
On the sidelines of the conference, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Both sides agreed on the need to translate their long-standing relations into practical mechanisms to address current challenges, particularly security threats in the Sahel, including the spread of armed groups.
Russia expressed its readiness to support ECOWAS’s regional integration agenda by strengthening intelligence capabilities, enhancing coordination among defence forces, and assisting member states in securing electoral processes.
Lavrov also pointed to Russian technical assistance in mine clearance and counter–improvised explosive device operations, alongside specialised training programmes for military and security forces.
The two sides further linked security and stability to economic development, highlighting the growing volume of trade between Russia and Africa, and discussing plans to deepen economic cooperation through new mechanisms.
