By: Kebba AF Touray
The Nigerian Senate, Ali Ndume, has expressed his hope that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will soon rescind their decision to leave the regional bloc.
Senator Ndume, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, unveiled this optimism during an interview with journalists on the sideline of the Second Extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament, which is currently underway in the Nigerian state of Kano.
Talking to the media crew at the said session of the community parliament, he said all that is needed to bring them back into the fold is now in place.
He stated that the circumstances that led to the decision of the three countries to leave the bloc have since been exhausted, saying that Niger no longer holds any agitations against her fellow West African countries especially Nigeria, and as such the country from all indications is ready to come back.
The lawmaker said: “The bone of contention which led to the decision to leave has since been exhausted and Niger is no longer annoyed with sister West African countries especially Nigeria and as such the country from all indications is ready to come back.”
He explained that the decision to leave the bloc came following the coup in Niger, and it was condemned by all ECOWAS member states, leading to sanctions being imposed on the country.
He told the media that he is personally involved and there is hope of Niger returning to ECOWAS and very soon they will get back together as they continue to work towards amicably resolving the matter.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso had in January this year announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS as a direct reaction to their early suspension from the regional bloc for coup d’état and pressure to return to democratic rule.
The trio had during a public announcement of their severing relationship with fellow West African countries, said they took the “sovereign decision” to withdraw from the regional bloc for the good of their people.
Photo: Coup Leaders
The military junta in Mali took over power in August 2020 while soldiers in Burkina Faso overthrew the democratic government in September 2022.
Soldiers in the Niger Republic in July 2023 overthrew the democratic government in the country, forcing the authority of ECOWAS to impose sanctions on the three Sahelian countries.
