Latest news with #EconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStates
Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt expresses desire to expand collaboration with ECOWAS in counterterrorism efforts
Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty expressed on Monday Egypt's desire to expand collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in training, capacity building, and technical assistance for the regional counterterrorism force. This occurred during FM Abdelatty's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, with ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the beginning of the meeting, Abdelatty extended Egypt's congratulations on the occasion of ECOWAS's 50th anniversary. He also praised the community's achievements in advancing regional integration, particularly facilitating the free movement of people and boosting intra-regional trade among member states. Moreover, he commended ECOWAS's efforts to uphold peace and security across West Africa. FM Abdelatty also emphasized the deep-rooted historical ties between Egypt and ECOWAS member states and reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to sharing its expertise and capabilities across various sectors. He highlighted Egypt's strong African identity and steadfast dedication to promoting stability, security, and development across the continent. Furthermore, he called for developing a practical and constructive framework for enhanced coordination and cooperation between Egypt and ECOWAS in confronting terrorism and extremism. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's firm stance rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa, expressing Cairo's full readiness to support the region's counterterrorism efforts. In this respect, he expressed Egypt's desire to expand collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission in training, capacity building, and technical assistance for the regional counterterrorism force. The minister also proposed exploring avenues for preventive cooperation under a comprehensive strategy addressing the ideological, developmental, and security dimensions of terrorism. This includes support for disarmament, demobilization, reintegration (DDR) programmes, community reconciliation, transitional justice, and anti-extremism initiatives. Egypt's top diplomat also highlighted the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding's (CCCPA) critical role in providing specialized capacity-building programmes on counterterrorism and cross-border threats, in collaboration with regional and international partners. Abdelatty further underscored the pivotal contribution of Al-Azhar, Egypt's leading Sunni Muslim institution, in combating extremist ideologies and promoting the values of moderation and tolerance through its scholarly missions deployed across Africa. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
News18
5 days ago
- Business
- News18
PM Modi's Strategic Push For Energy And Resources: Key Deals In Ghana, Trinidad, And Namibia
With MoUs inked in Ghana and strategic talks lined up in Trinidad and Namibia, India is pursuing long-term energy and resource partnerships Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a five-country visit. His first stop was Ghana, where he signed major agreements. Some key deals to watch include LNG contracts from Trinidad and Tobago, uranium and critical mineral deals from Namibia, and positioning Indian fintech and services to enter West Africa through Ghana. The tour will then move to Argentina and Brazil, but more on that later. The Ghana leg of the trip has already concluded, and the Prime Minister is now en route to Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Each nation, before landing on the Latin American mainland, holds significant importance. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian premier in over three decades, represents a calculated move to establish a strategic beachhead in West Africa. The agreements inked in Accra are foundational, aiming to position India not merely as a trading partner but as an indispensable force in the region's digital and developmental future. Ghana is being cultivated as a crucial launchpad for Indian commercial and technological influence into the wider Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The immediate deliverables are clear. Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering culture, standards, traditional medicine, and a Joint Commission lay the institutional groundwork for deeper engagement. More significantly, however, is the stated ambition to double bilateral trade from its current level of approximately USD 3 billion within five years. At the heart of this push is India's readiness to share its UPI technology. It represents the vanguard of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) diplomacy, which has been offered to Ghana — a powerful tool to embed Indian systems into the core of emerging economies and create long-term dependencies and partnerships. Beyond the immediate trade and tech push, the visit laid the groundwork for deeper strategic cooperation. Discussions on establishing a vaccine manufacturing hub, with support from Indian entrepreneurs, signal an intent to make Ghana a centre for regional health security, backed by India's formidable pharmaceutical capacity. Similarly, commitments to cooperate in the exploration of critical minerals and enhance defence ties underscore a comprehensive strategy. India is positioning itself as a provider of capital, technology, and security — a holistic partnership designed to supplant other global players and solidify its role as a leading partner for the Global South. Trinidad And Tobago: Securing Long-Term Energy As India's economy expands, energy demand becomes increasingly acute, rendering its security intrinsically linked to stable, diversified sources. The visit to Trinidad and Tobago must be viewed through this lens of strategic necessity. While current bilateral trade is a modest USD 341 million, the true objective transcends this figure. As a significant producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a stable democracy in the Americas, Trinidad and Tobago represents a vital opportunity for India to de-risk its energy portfolio. The primary strategic prize on the table is a long-term LNG supply agreement. Securing such a contract would provide a reliable energy corridor, reducing India's over-exposure to supply chains from more geopolitically volatile regions. For a nation that imports the vast majority of its energy, locking in supplies from a partner located far from traditional flashpoints is a critical component of national security. The talks on energy cooperation are therefore not routine diplomatic dialogue; they are central to fuelling India's continued economic ascent. Profound soft power advantages buttress this hard-nosed strategic pursuit. The visit, coinciding with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers, carries immense symbolic weight as well. The island nation's population is 40–45 per cent of Indian origin, with its President and Prime Minister both proudly acknowledging their Indian heritage. There is a deep, historical connection that provides a foundation of trust and cultural affinity, facilitating complex commercial negotiations. Namibia: A Critical Minerals And Uranium Nexus The final leg of this initial tour, Namibia, is arguably the most critical from a resource security perspective. The agenda here is direct and unambiguous: securing access to the building blocks of both the nuclear and green energy revolutions. With bilateral trade of USD 650 million already driven by diamonds, the aim is to move beyond existing commerce into a strategic partnership that will power India's industrial and technological future for decades to come. The primary focus is on uranium. As a major global producer, Namibia is a natural partner for India's civilian nuclear energy programme. Efforts to finalise a long-term uranium supply agreement are paramount. This would provide the fuel needed to expand India's nuclear power generation — a key pillar of its strategy to meet climate goals while ensuring baseload energy stability. Securing this supply is a non-negotiable requirement for India's long-term energy planning. Equally important is Namibia's untapped potential in critical minerals. The country holds significant reserves of cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements — essential inputs for batteries, electric vehicles, and high-technology manufacturing. Gaining preferential access to these resources is central to the success of India's 'Make in India' initiative and its ambition to become a global manufacturing hub in new-age industries. Furthermore, the push to establish direct sourcing routes for Namibian diamonds would disrupt the traditional trade flows through Antwerp and London, capturing significantly more value for India's world-leading diamond processing industry. The parallel agreement to expand UPI in Namibia demonstrates a multi-pronged approach — using digital integration to cement a strategic resource partnership that is vital for India's future. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Morocco World
12-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline Project Advances as Officials Meet in Rabat
Rabat — The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project seems to be making significant progress, with Rabat hosting this week several high-level meetings to discuss the project. The project, which will stretch across 13 African countries, gained momentum during technical and steering committee meetings held on July 10-11 in Rabat. The gatherings brought together top executives from national oil companies across West Africa to review the project's progress. Officials from Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) organized the meetings, which also included representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO). Project reaches key milestones The ambitious pipeline has already cleared several important hurdles. Engineers completed detailed design studies in 2024, and teams finished environmental and social impact assessments for the northern section. Similar studies for the southern segment, running from Nigeria to Senegal, are now underway. The pipeline will carry 30 billion cubic meters of gas annually when complete. Developers plan to build it in phases, with a holding company overseeing financing and construction. Three separate project companies will handle different segments of the route. In December 2024, West African leaders approved the Intergovernmental Agreement during the 66th CEDEAO Summit, spelling out each country's rights and responsibilities for the project. New partnership agreement signed During the Rabat meetings, officials signed a new memorandum of understanding between three key players, namely Nigeria's National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Morocco's ONHYM, and Togo's National Gas Company (SOTOGAZ). The agreement marks Togo's official entry into the project and completes the series of partnerships with all countries along the pipeline route. Connecting Africa to Europe The pipeline will start in Nigeria and run along the Atlantic coast through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania before reaching Morocco. From there, it will connect to the existing Maghreb-Europe Pipeline and European gas networks. The project will also supply gas to three landlocked countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. Royal vision for African integration King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched this strategic initiative together. The Moroccan monarch said he sees the pipeline as a way to boost African development, improve living conditions across the region, and strengthen economic ties between African nations. Officials believe the project will give Africa greater economic, political, and strategic influence while serving as a major driver of regional integration. The pipeline aligns with Morocco's broader Atlantic Initiative, which aims to increase cooperation between Atlantic-facing African countries. The project promises significant economic and social benefits for all 13 countries along its route, potentially transforming energy access and economic opportunities across West Africa. Tags: gas pipelineGas Pipeline ProjectMorocco Nigeria
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Modi arrives in Ghana on first leg of five-nation tour
Accra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Ghana on a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with the West African country's top leadership and review the strong bilateral partnership. From Ghana, Modi will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on a two-day visit from July 3 to 4. In the third leg of his visit, Modi will visit Argentina from July 4 to 5. In the fourth leg of his visit, Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS summit followed by a state visit. In the final leg of his visit, Modi will travel to Namibia. Modi, who is visiting Ghana at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport here. This is the prime minister's first-ever bilateral visit to Ghana. It is also the first prime ministerial visit from India to Ghana in three decades. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, Modi said in his departure statement.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
PM arrives in Ghana on first leg of 5-nation tour
Accra (Ghana): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived in Ghana on a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with the West African country's top leadership and review the strong bilateral partnership. Modi, who is visiting Ghana at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama, was given a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport here. This is the Prime Minister's first-ever bilateral visit to Ghana. It is also the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana in three decades. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, the PM said in his departure statement. Modi added that he looked forward to talks aimed at further deepening the two countries' historical ties and opening up new windows of cooperation, including in the areas of investment, energy, health, security, capacity building and development partnership. "As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana," he added. During the visit, Modi will hold talks with the president of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss further avenues to enhance it through economic, energy, and defence collaboration, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) and the African Union, it added. From Ghana, Modi will travel to Trinidad and Tobago on a two-day visit from July 3 to 4. In the third leg of his visit, Modi will visit Argentina from July 4 to 5. In the fourth leg of his visit, Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS summit followed by a state visit. In the final leg of his visit, Modi will travel to Namibia.
