By Ken Afor
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on the military leaders in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
President Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS, assured the military leaders that the organization is prepared to review its sanctions with the aim of restoring constitutional order in the states.
The three countries announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, citing the detrimental impact of what they deemed “illegal sanctions” on their citizens.
The President, who spoke during the ECOWAS extraordinary summit on the political, peace, and security situation in the region at the State House in Abuja on Saturday, noted that times such as these in the sub-region demand bold steps in resolving disputes while considering the sufferings of the people.
He emphasized that democracy offers nothing more than both a political structure and a means to fulfill the fundamental needs and desires of the populace, hence the need for the organization to reassess the current strategy in pursuit of constitutional order in the states.
He said, “Times like we currently face in our sub-region demand that we take difficult but courageous decisions that put the plight of our people at the centre of our deliberations.
“Democracy is nothing more than the political framework and the path to addressing the basic needs and aspirations of the people. This is why we must re-examine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order in four of our member states.
“I, therefore, urge them to reconsider the decision of the three of them to exit their home and not to perceive our organisation as the enemy.”
He added that the decision of ECOWAS should be guided by its commitment to protecting constitutional order, upholding the tenets of democracy, and prioritizing the economic well-being of the people.
He said, “The Memorandum will give us an update on the current situation in the Republics of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.
“On that note, our decisions must be guided by our commitment to safeguarding the constitutional order, upholding democratic principles, and promoting the social and economic well-being of the citizens of the aforementioned countries.
“Furthermore, we will deliberate on the announced withdrawal from ECOWAS by the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. In the spirit of collective security and African solidarity, we realize that the stability of these nations is intricately linked to the overall peace and security of West Africa.”
It is recalled that on September 30, 2022, Burkina Faso, the impoverished Sahel nation, experienced fresh political turmoil as Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had taken control in January, was ousted by a newly emerged rival, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who led a faction of dissatisfied junior officers.
Similarly, in May 2021, the Malian Army, led by Assimi Goïta, toppled power from President Bah N’daw.
The third recent coup in the sub-region, on July 26, 2023, was led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, whom the former President, Mohamed Bazoum, had planned to relieve from his position.
