The President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, has called for concrete actions on longstanding global commitments to peace and development.
Speaking at the Summit of the Future during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Touray emphasized the critical need to move beyond rhetoric and deliver on promises made under various international frameworks.
The ECOWAS Commission released a statement on Monday outlining Touray’s address, in which he praised UN Secretary-General António Guterres for organizing the summit.
Touray noted that the summit comes at a decisive moment in global affairs, with the world standing at a pivotal juncture.
“The timing of the summit is particularly significant coming, as it does, at a time when our world stands at a crossroads,” Touray stated, underscoring the urgent need to choose between “a chaotic past and a more just, collaborative future.”
He expressed skepticism about the new Pact for the Future, pointing out that many of its commitments have been reiterated from previous UN agendas.
Touray’s remarks suggested a pressing need for stronger political will to transform these commitments into tangible outcomes.
“The fact that we have come back to the same old commitments suggests that we still need greater political will to deliver on the good promises,” he noted.
For ECOWAS, the real impact of the Pact for the Future will depend on effective implementation.
Touray urged global leaders to take decisive steps on critical issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate justice, and youth empowerment.
He highlighted the importance of regional unity and integration, particularly in West Africa, warning that disunity and conflict could undermine progress.
“If we fail to deliver once again, history will look back to this summit not as the summit of the future but a Summit of the Past. This is the choice before us,” he concluded, stressing the importance of action to ensure the summit’s relevance and legacy.
