Chair of ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), also Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar called on Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali to prioritize dialogue, diplomacy and reconciliation to resolve disputes within the community, warning against the detrimental impact withdrawal from ECOWAS could have on these countries’ citizens.
This statement came as a response to Mali’s, Burkina Faso’s, and Niger’s recently-announced collective decision to withdraw from the Pan-African organization.
During a MSC extraordinary session on Abuja on Thursday, Ambassador Tuggar stressed that “the choice of these three countries to exit ECOWAS would not only bring hardship to their people but also undermine regional integration efforts,” as per an ECOWAS press release.
He stated that the troika’s decision to withdraw from the community presents a new challenge to the region. “However, the members are heartened by the spirit of cooperation to resolve this challenge and uphold the community’s values.”
President of ECOWAS Commission Omar Alieu Touray stated for his part that “ECOWAS remains committed to reflecting the aspirations of its citizens for accountable and democratic governance.”
The session addressed the pressing issue of terrorism in the Sahel, and called for deploying the ECOWAS Standby Force to combat the threat of terrorism that looms over the community, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
ECOWAS reiterated its will to stand united in its efforts towards dialogue, reconciliation, and combating terrorism, embodying the spirit of cooperation and unity that defines the organization.