FG Express Sadness Over Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso’s ECOWAS Exit

Joy ChukwuJanuary 30, 20241 Mins read268

The Nigerian government has expressed sadness regarding the decisions of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the sub-regional economic bloc.

In a statement released on Monday, signed by Fransisca Omayuli, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian government conveyed its sentiments over the military juntas’ decision in the three Francophone countries to withdraw from the bloc, established on May 28, 1975, in Lagos.

She stated, “Nigeria expresses its sadness over the pronouncement by the Military authority in the Republic of Niger indicating that the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn membership of their countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

The statement continued, highlighting ECOWAS’s five-decade commitment to promoting peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region. Nigeria affirmed its solidarity with ECOWAS, emphasising due process and a shared commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of all citizens of Member States.

“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,” the statement noted.

“Instead, unelected leaders engage in 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.”

The statement further expressed the country’s openness to engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to ensure that all people in the region can continue to benefit from the economic advantages and democratic values embraced by ECOWAS. Nigeria appealed to the international community to continue supporting ECOWAS and its vision of closer partnership, cooperation, and integration.