President Bola Tinubu emphasized that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is actively engaging in negotiations with the military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to encourage their return to the organization.
During a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Friday, Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, reiterated the commitment to extending a hand of friendship to the three nations and providing them with compelling reasons to rejoin the bloc.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed the outcomes of the meeting with the title ‘ECOWAS’ hand of friendship still open to Niger, Mali, And Burkina Faso, says President Tinubu.’
These remarks from Tinubu follow his earlier suggestion of convening a special extraordinary session to deliberate on the future of the regional economic bloc.
While speaking at the Sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union in Accra, Ghana, on July 21, the President hinted at future discussions regarding the ongoing dialogues with the estranged member states.
Tinubu, who was re-elected as ECOWAS Chairman for another one-year term during the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority held in Abuja on July 7, appointed the Presidents of Senegal and Togo, Bassirou Faye and Faure Gnassingbé respectively, to lead the mediation efforts with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Notably, the civilian administrations in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger were overthrown by the military in September 2022, May 2021, and July 2023 respectively.
Following the coups, ECOWAS imposed economic sanctions isolating the three countries along with Guinea, where the military seized power in September 2021.
While some sanctions were lifted by ECOWAS in February, the junta-led states maintained their stance to withdraw from the union.
Last July, the military leaders of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali signed a confederation treaty aiming to bolster a mutual defence pact under the Alliance of Sahel States, announced in September of the previous year.
Nevertheless, ECOWAS remains committed to the reintegration of the sister states into the nearly half-century-old organization.
Discussing the regional security and promotion of constitutional governance, Tinubu stated on Friday, “We will diligently work towards persuading them to return, using all means necessary.
“No individual is wiser than the collective wisdom of the heads of states present here.”
Applauding the commitment of the defence chiefs to regional stability and upholding constitutional governance, the ECOWAS Chairman reiterated the dedication of member countries to bolster the $2.6 billion Standby Force as a key solution to terrorism in the Sahel region.
“The key to addressing terrorism and other challenges lies within our region’s hands. We must collaborate on this. The ECOWAS standby force must stand prepared.
“We will continue investing in this, alongside enhancing economic prosperity and opportunities within our region,” President Tinubu affirmed.
In his address, Chairman ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, informed the President of the consensus among the defence chiefs on collectively addressing challenges such as insurgency and unconstitutional changes in government within the region.
General Musa also highlighted discussions veered towards enhancing the ECOWAS military capabilities, including the proposed standby force.
He further announced the decision to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone, with member states pledging their support to this mission.
“We recognize the upcoming meeting of ECOWAS finance ministers to address the critical issue of funding, as well as logistical considerations,” General Musa added.
Emphasizing the importance of balancing military operations with political components for ensuring long-term stability, General Musa reiterated the defence chiefs’ commitment to collaborating effectively to safeguard the security and well-being of the West African sub-region.