Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on Sunday announced their immediate withdrawal from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has said that his administration is open for engagement with the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
SaharaReporters reported on January 28, 2024 that the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on Sunday announced their immediate withdrawal from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In the declaration made in Ouagadougou, Bamako and Niamey on January 28, 2024, the military rulers gave their reasons for taking the action.
According to them, ECOWAS has deviated from the ideals of the founding fathers and pan-Africanism.
“After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali and Niger note with much regret, bitterness and great disappointment that their Organisation has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism."
Reacting to the decision, the 15-nation body said that Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso remain important members of the regional bloc.
In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, maintained that Nigeria "stands with ECOWAS to emphasise due process and shared commitment to protect and strengthen the rights and welfare of all citizens of Member States."
Omayuli explained that Nigeria has worked sincerely and in good faith to reach out to all members of the ECOWAS family to resolve the difficulties being faced. "It is now clear that those seeking to quit the Community do not share that same good faith.
“Instead, unelected leaders engage in a public posturing to deny their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices over their freedom of movement, freedom to trade and freedom to choose their own leaders.
“Nigeria remains open for engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger so that all the people of the region can continue to enjoy the economic benefits and democratic values that ECOWAS embraces.”