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The President of Senegal, Bassirou Faye, has vowed to reopen talks with the military juntas of Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso to reintegrate them into the Economic Community of West African States.
This moved became necessary following President Bola Tinubu’s appeal for renewed efforts to negotiate the return of the sister counties into the regional bloc after military takeovers in 2022 and 2023.
“We can discuss with our brothers and convince them to come back into the fold,”
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu receives President Bassirou Faye of Senegal, says West Africa must work in unison to defeat terrorism, human trafficking.’
Tinubu’s call came four months after the three countries announced their withdrawal from the ECOWAS, citing “illegal sanctions” attracted by an unconstitutional change of government.
In 2022 alone, Burkina-Faso experienced two coups d’état. In January of that year, the military overthrew the elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, installing Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba as interim leader.
However, Damiba was overthrown nine months later by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who remains in power to date.
Niger Republic joined the league of junta-led West African nations when in June 2023, the military detained President Mohammed Bazoum as General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, declared himself as the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”
In January 2024, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the 49-year-old bloc.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, had, in April, warned that the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina-Faso from the bloc puts ECOWAS’ investments worth nearly $1bn at risk.
Tinubu emphasised that democratic governance, democratic values, and constitutional order are sacrosanct and must be protected.
He said, “Constitutional democracy is what Senegal proved to the rest of the world and Africa. It is a critical time it is in the history of constitutional democracy, particularly in West Africa. What you have embarked upon, a struggle couched in freedom, is remarkable,” President Tinubu said.
In response, President Faye said that with President Tinubu’s wisdom and experience, relations among member states can be strengthened even as negotiation efforts with the junta-ruled states reopens.
“ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. It is something we owe to the founding fathers of the community, and I have no doubt that you want to continue this legacy of integration. The union is going through a rough patch, but not everything is lost.
“I know I can rely on your wisdom and experience, as the leader of this great African nation, and the more recent example of Senegal; so that together, hand in hand, we can grow together, and that we can discuss with our brothers and convince them to come back into the fold. To come back and share our common democratic values and what we stand for.
“Your wisdom and your democratic values should be an asset to that vision, and my youth and determination can also be an asset. If we come together, with all these assets and advantages, I am convinced we can open a window of opportunity to discuss,” said Faye.
In his latter remarks, President Faye acknowledged Nigeria and Senegal’s shared values, ideals, and challenges, emphasising that both nations have always had good relations since the 1960s.
