STRENGTHENING BILATERAL COOPERATION AND FURTHER DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND ECOWAS

The newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Albalawi, has pledged to consolidate the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between his country and the West African region. 

He reaffirmed this during a courtesy visit to the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, on Thursday, 2 April 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Saudi diplomat emphasized the importance of facilitating economic and diplomatic exchanges between Saudi Arabia and West Africa. He also took the opportunity to inform his host of plans to open around ten embassies of the Kingdom in ECOWAS Member States within the next five years.

Ambassador Yousef Mohammed Albalawi further reiterated his country’s willingness to strengthen its support for ECOWAS efforts in addressing community challenges and promoting peace, security and stability in West Africa. “There is no development without peace, security and stability,” he stated.

This is also the guiding principle of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, for whom no economic development or infrastructure achievement is possible without peace and security, not only in West Africa but also globally.

Dr. Omar Alieu Touray congratulated Yousef Mohammed Albalawi on his appointment as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria and expressed his readiness to soon receive his letters of credence accrediting him also to ECOWAS.

He assured him of his support in the successful fulfilment of his mission to the regional organisation and took the opportunity to highlight the excellence of the longstanding relations of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ECOWAS. 

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a privileged partner and its cooperation with ECOWAS has a solid foundation. This cooperation will continue and be further strengthened,” Dr. Omar Alieu Touray stated.

He reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to strengthening relations with Saudi Arabia, underlining the long-standing partnership between the two parties.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for Dr. Omar Alieu Touray to inform the Saudi diplomat of one of the major challenges currently facing ECOWAS, namely misinformation.

It should be noted that Dr. Omar Alieu Touray was accompanied at the meeting by his Chief of Staff, Abdou Kolley; his Communication Adviser, Abdoulie Gassama; as well as Jérôme Boa and Liberor Doscof Aho, respectively Director of External Relations and Communication Officer of the ECOWAS Commission.