The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has urged Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reconsider their decision and return to the regional bloc.
The three Sahel countries jointly announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 28, 2024, following the suspension slammed on the junta authorities as a result of unconstitutional change of government.
Consequently, in line with ECOWAS protocol, their withdrawal became official January 2025.
Calling for a rethink, the ECOWAS Parliament pointed out the importance of regional integration and cooperation, highlighting the potential consequences of the withdrawal on the socio-economic well-being of citizens in the Sahel region.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Delocalized Meeting in Banjul, Gambia, Sen. Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., who spoke at the closing ceremony of a five-day meeting, “We want you back. Let us come together as a team. No matter what, we agree to disagree.”
Sen. Snowe noted that the community has been together for 50 years and that the withdrawal of these countries has been a challenging experience.
Also, the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Women in Parliament, and Oppressions with Disability, Hon. Veronica Seecay, appealed to the withdrawn countries to put aside their differences and work together with the community.
“We need you people, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali. We are a bloc. We should be working together,” she said.
The Chairperson highlighted the importance of unity and cooperation among member states, citing the example of ECOWAS’s intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone during times of conflict.
“We’ve been helping each other. Like for us, who faced the war in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We appreciated the cause that was done by ECOWAS in their intervention to help us calm down the situation in Sierra Leone,” she said.
She also emphasized the impact of conflict on women and children, saying, “When there is a problem, who faced the bulk of it? It’s women and children.” She appealed to the withdrawn countries to consider the impact of their decision on these vulnerable groups.
The meeting discussed the political, social, economic, and humanitarian impact of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Committee Member, Hon. Zainab Gimba in her closing remarks, expressed gratitude to the authorities and people of The Gambia for their warm reception and hospitality.
“We were deeply touched by the warm, fraternal, and gracious reception accorded to us by the authorities and the people of the Republic of The Gambia.
“We hold in high regard the invaluable and decisive role that the Republic of The Gambia continues to play in advancing regional integration and development within ECOWAS institutions, and the ECOWAS Parliament in particular.”
She paid tribute to President Adama Barrow for his commitment to democratic principles and good governance in The Gambia.
She also expressed appreciation to the National Assembly of The Gambia, the Speaker, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, and the Gambian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, led by Hon. Billay G. Tunkara, for their exceptional hospitality.
She commended the distinguished resource persons and participants for their valuable contributions, which enriched the discussions and enhanced understanding of the subject matter.
“We also appreciated the administrative and support staff for their tireless efforts, which ensured the smooth conduct of the meeting.”
