The Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of Stateand Government got underway in Abuja on Saturday with regional security and thesecurity situation in Guinea Bissau as its main agenda. The ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau was inauguratedin April 2012 with the aim of stabilising the ongoing political turmoil in thatcountry. To this effect, the 39th Ordinary Meeting of theECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff reviewed its peace supportoperations, including the mission in Guinea Bissau, and made recommendations tothe Authority. According to the Draft Work Programme, the meetingwill consider the reports of the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation andSecurity Council and the 82nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-ClaudeBrou, during the meeting, stated that insecurity was the greatest challengefacing the region and hampering economic, social and human advancements.The meeting would also consider the ECOWASsingle currency, youth empowerment, climate change and other threats facing theregion.