Victor EzejaFormer Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has expressed concern about the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw their membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), asserting that it will cause serious setback for the West African region.
Prime Business Africa reports that Burkina Faso, Mail and Niger, currently under military rule had on Sunday announced their decision to quit ECOWAS.
This followed months of diplomatic efforts by ECOWAS and other international bodies to make them return to democratic government.
The Commission of ECOWAS while reacting to the news on Sunday said in a statement that though broadcast of the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were monitored, it is however yet to formally receive any direct notice of withdrawal of membership from the three countries. It added that the three countries were important members of the group and it “remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.”
The three West African countries said in a joint statement that ECOWAS as a regional organisation “has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.”
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They added that the regional group failed to help them tackle terrorism and insecurity.
Justifying their action, the military juntas said it was a “sovereign decision” to leave ECOWAS “without delay.”
Reacting to the development, Sani, a human rights activist, said the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger signifies a failure of diplomacy and dialogue, apparently on the part of ECOWAS and the African Union.
“The Withdrawal of Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso from Ecowas is a serious setback for West Africa. It signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue.
“We lost our African blood brothers because of our Western conditional friends. We sacrificed our hands to keep our wristwatches,” Sani stated
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
