Germany pledges €49m to enhance peace, development in ECOWAS region

Germany has pledged €49 million (₦82 billion) in fresh funding to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region in advancing peace, security, economic development, and health initiatives across the region.

The commitment followed two days of high-level bilateral negotiations on development cooperation between Germany and ECOWAS, held at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 4 and 5, 2025.

The meeting brought together senior representatives from both sides, including the German Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Annett Günther, and Christoph Rauh, Director for Africa at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The ECOWAS delegation was led by Vice President Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, who reaffirmed the regional body’s commitment to deeper integration and stability amid economic and political challenges.

Speaking during the session, Vice President Tchintchibidja praised Germany’s long-standing partnership and consistent support for West Africa.

“Following the last negotiations of September 2023 in Berlin and the bilateral consultations held in 2024 in Abuja, we are gathered here today to take stock of the achievements and results of the ECOWAS-German cooperation and define priorities and clear perspectives for the next two years,” she said.

She added that the partnership had recorded “significant progress” because of a shared vision and stronger coordination.

“The ECOWAS-German cooperation has made significant progress in recent years, and this is due to two factors: increased convergence around shared priorities and improved coordination among actors,” she said.

“I would like to reiterate our commitment to this bilateral cooperation and express our deep appreciation to the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).”

Ambassador Annett Günther reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to the region’s peace and prosperity, saying, “Germany stands firmly with ECOWAS as a trusted partner, united by shared values of peace, stability, and inclusive growth.

“Our cooperation is not only about financial support and projects, but about empowering institutions, strengthening democracy, and improving the lives of people across the region.”

BMZ Director Christoph Rauh noted that the cooperation was built on mutual respect and a shared vision.

“Our cooperation with ECOWAS reflects mutual respect and a shared vision — to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, create economic opportunities, and strengthen regional solidarity,” he said. “Together, we are building bridges between people, economies, and institutions for a better future.”

The new commitment includes €32.8 million for financial cooperation and €16.2 million for technical cooperation across key areas such as peace and security, health, regional integration, and climate and energy transition.

Germany has been a reliable partner of ECOWAS since 1985, currently supporting bilateral projects worth about €494 million through agencies such as GIZ, KfW, and PTB.

These projects have strengthened peacebuilding, governance, climate resilience, and pandemic control across West Africa.

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