The 69th summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took place on July 19, 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, according to official ECOWAS communications. The summit focused on regional security, economic integration, and the ongoing application of Morocco to join the bloc.
Morocco's request for membership, first submitted in 2017, was again a topic of discussion. The North African country, which is not geographically in West Africa, has sought closer ties with ECOWAS, citing economic and security benefits. However, no final decision on membership was announced at this summit.
Leaders from member states, including Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the need for unity and cooperation in addressing challenges such as terrorism and climate change. The summit also reviewed the implementation of the ECOWAS single currency project, though no new timeline was set.
