As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marks its 50th anniversary, the Russian Federation has extended its warm congratulations to the regional bloc, underscoring a commitment to deepening bilateral relations. Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Sergei Lavrov, conveyed his message to ECOWAS Commission President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, through the Russian Embassy in Nigeria.
In an official letter dated May 28, 2025, Lavrov praised ECOWAS for its significant contributions to regional integration, sustainable development, and its active role in addressing key international and regional challenges.
“We would like to highlight the role of ECOWAS in promoting integration processes, ensuring the sustainable development of the Community’s Member States, and its growing engagement with key issues on the international and regional agenda,” Lavrov stated.
He emphasized Russia’s ongoing commitment to strengthening cooperation with ECOWAS, referencing the outcomes of the Russia-Africa Summits held in 2019 and 2023, as well as the First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in 2024. Lavrov expressed confidence that the upcoming Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and ECOWAS, currently under preparation, will further solidify these relations.
The letter concluded with personal well wishes to President Touray and a message of peace and prosperity for the people of ECOWAS member states.
The message comes as ECOWAS celebrates five decades of regional cooperation, economic integration, and collective diplomacy among its 15 member states.
About the Author
