Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and head of the West African regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed that the body will continue its efforts to persuade the military governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rejoin the regional bloc.
Speaking in his dual capacity as the President of Nigeria and the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu made this declaration during a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff on Friday in Abuja.
In his remarks, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of regional security and the protection of constitutional governance. “It is in our hearts to make sure that security is enhanced and that constitutional government is defended and promoted in our region,” he stated.
Tinubu acknowledged the challenges posed by the recent departures of these three member states from the ECOWAS fold, yet he remained hopeful about their return. “It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way.”
The President also highlighted the significance of unity among the heads of state within the region, stressing, “No man is smarter than the group of heads that is here. We will do everything to offer a hand of friendship to them and give them reasons to come back to us.”
During the meeting, the ECOWAS Chairman commended the defence chiefs for their unwavering commitment to regional stability and the defense of constitutional governance.
He emphasized the collective responsibility in addressing issues such as terrorism and other security challenges, asserting, “The solution to terrorism and other challenges lies in our hands. We have to do it together. The ECOWAS standby force must be ready. We will continue to invest in it, as well as in the economic prosperity and opportunities across our region.”
General Christopher Musa, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff, echoed the President’s sentiments, stressing that the defence chiefs acknowledged the challenges posed by recent political instability and unconstitutional changes in government. He emphasized that these issues must be addressed to ensure the region’s security and stability.
The discussions at the meeting also focused on enhancing the capabilities of the ECOWAS military components, particularly the proposed regional standby force. Significant progress was reported, with pledges made to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone, as member countries committed to supporting this initiative.
