By Alusine Sesay
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 17 July 2026: The ECOWAS Commission has signed two strategic cooperation agreements with the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) and the Mano River Union (MRU), reinforcing its drive to deepen regional integration, strengthen food systems, and advance peacebuilding across West Africa. The agreements were concluded on the sidelines of the 2026 ECOWAS Mid-Year Statutory Meetings in Freetown.
The Memorandum of Understanding with IFDC sets out a framework for collaboration on sustainable soil fertility management, fertilizer systems, and climate-smart agriculture. It aligns with the Lomé and Nairobi Declarations on Fertilizer and Soil Health, aiming to boost agricultural productivity and resilience while tackling food and nutrition insecurity in ECOWAS Member States.
Meanwhile, the Cooperation Agreement with the MRU focuses on peacebuilding, cross-border governance, and the sustainable management of shared natural resources. It underscores the shared commitment of both institutions to foster stability, socio-economic transformation, and deeper integration within the Mano River Basin and the wider ECOWAS region.
The agreements were signed by ECOWAS Commission President H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, IFDC Chief Operating Officer Mr. Thiam Bayella, and MRU Secretary-General Ambassador Simeon Moribah.