ECOWAS Commission President H.E. General Birame Diop held consultations with senior IMF and World Bank officials in Washington, D.C., on 28 and 29 September 2026, on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly session.
Diop was accompanied by Hon. Francesca Alghali, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr. Jerome Boa, Director of External Relations; Mr. Babatunde Afolabi, Director of Political Affairs; and Amb. Kinza Jawara-Njai and Mrs. Esther Daramola, respectively Head and Political Adviser at the ECOWAS Representation to the United Nations.
At the IMF, the delegation met with Professor Ouattara Wautabouna, Executive Director for the IMF West Africa Constituency, and Mr. Zeine Zeidane, Director of the IMF African Department.
According to an ECOWAS account of the visit, discussions covered the economic outlook for West Africa, regional integration, macroeconomic stability, peacebuilding challenges, and the role of ECOWAS in fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.
The parties also exchanged views on strengthening collaboration through the existing memorandum of understanding between ECOWAS and the IMF, with the stated aim of enhancing IMF support for regional economic and monetary integration, including in connection with the planned launch of the ECOWAS single currency, the ECO, in 2027.
At the World Bank, the delegation met with Mr. Ousmane Diagana, Vice President for Western and Central Africa, who reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting ECOWAS and its member states in advancing regional integration, infrastructure development, food security, human capital development, and economic transformation.
The meetings included a review of the progress of ongoing programmes. The World Bank underscored what it described as the strategic importance of ECOWAS as a regional platform for promoting stability, economic cooperation, and development across West Africa.
The parties agreed to organise a high-level mission to the ECOWAS Commission during the third week of November 2026 to undertake a comprehensive review of institutional portfolios, assess implementation progress, and identify new opportunities for enhanced collaboration and resource mobilisation in support of regional priorities.
ECOWAS said the engagements reaffirmed the shared commitment of the commission, the IMF, and the World Bank Group to promoting sustainable development, strengthening economic resilience, and accelerating the implementation of programmes intended to improve the lives of citizens across the region.
The visit formed part of ECOWAS’ broader diplomatic and partnership engagement during UNGA81.
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