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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament on Thursday expressed concern over the reluctance of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to return to the region bloc despite series of entreaties by leaders.
The Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, expressed the concern during the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the legislative body in Lome, Togo.
Recall that the three countries — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — were sanctioned by the regional bloc (ECOWAS) after disagreement over their military takeovers of government.
The Speaker noted that since the three countries announced their exit from the 15-member ECOWAS in January 2024, they had yet to respond to calls for return.
She said, “We have taken a lot of initiatives at the level of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Council of Ministers and at all levels. We have written to the three countries but they have not responded.”
She, however, said the reconciliation bid would not seize despite their neglect for ECOWAS, adding that African leaders would continue to reach out to them for reconciliation.
A member of the Parliament, Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama, from Sierra Leone, had raised concerns over the continued absence of the three countries and the implications for the citizens of the countries, calling for more efforts to reconcile with the estranged countries and bring them back.
ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on the three countries after the military takeover but had gone a step further, threatening military intervention to restore democracy in Niger.
This initiated camaraderie in the three countries who subsequently pulled out from the regional bloc, forming instead the Confederation of Sahel states.
Recall that the leaders of the three countries announced at a Summit early this year, that, “This summit marks a decisive step for the future of our common space. Together, we will consolidate the foundations of our true independence, a guarantee of true peace and sustainable development through the creation of the ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ Confederation'," Capt. Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso, wrote on X.
“The Alliance of Sahel States is full of enormous natural potential which, if properly exploited, will guarantee a better future for the people of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso,” Traore added.
Earlier this September, the three leaders said they would introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from ECOWAS in favour of the new Sahel alliance.
“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the Alliance of Sahel States will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world,” Malian junta leader, Assimi Goita, had announced.
