Dr. Omar Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has announced intensified efforts by the Commission to combat misinformation and disinformation across the sub-region.
Speaking during his Community Work Programme address at the ongoing 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Touray revealed that more than 500 journalists from across West Africa have been trained in recent years to counter the spread of fake news.
“The training of journalists was aimed at combating misinformation and disinformation, considering the dangerous impact of fake news on peace, democracy, and regional stability,” he said.
Touray noted that ECOWAS has modernised its information management and strategic communication approach, with its Information and Communication Policy currently being updated to address emerging challenges posed by social media and artificial intelligence.
Beyond the fight against disinformation, he highlighted the region’s steady economic recovery, citing reforms by member states, improved fiscal management, declining inflation, and stronger intra-regional trade. Economic growth rose from 4.3 percent in 2024 to 4.8 percent in 2025, with projections of 5.0 percent in 2026.
On regional diplomacy, Touray stressed that ECOWAS continues engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger despite their recent withdrawal from the bloc. He also disclosed that more than 5.3 million vulnerable citizens have benefitted from humanitarian interventions, particularly in conflict-affected and disaster-prone communities.
Touray concluded by reaffirming ECOWAS’s commitment to peace, stability, and integration, even as the region confronts terrorism, political instability, and the growing menace of disinformation.
