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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 45960, member: 636"] West African leaders met June 22, 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria for their annual summit. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led the meeting as chairman of the regional group ECOWAS. The heads of state discussed security missions operating across member countries. They asked more nations to send troops and police officers to help with peacekeeping work. Current contributing countries face heavy pressure from these duties. Leaders praised Gambia for creating budget money to reform its security forces. The country also promised to follow recommendations from a 2017 security review. ECOWAS officials found that peace missions helped stabilize Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Both host countries must provide better housing and office space for international forces. The missions have successfully supported local defense and security troops. ECOWAS extended two mission mandates for the final time. The Guinea-Bissau mission received an 18-month extension. The Gambia mission will continue for 24 more months. Officials must create plans to end both missions after these periods expire. They will develop strategies to withdraw troops and close operations. Three countries want to leave the regional bloc permanently. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS. Leaders appointed a chief negotiator to handle talks with these departing nations. The negotiator will work to protect regional trade and citizen interests. A team of ministers and technical experts will assist these discussions. Nigeria agreed to host a new maritime security headquarters. The facility will coordinate naval operations across the Gulf of Guinea. [/QUOTE]

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