Coup: Talks ongoing for Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso to rejoin ECOWAS – Tinubu

• The regional body had announced the reinstatement of Niger and the removal of sanctions that were earlier placed on the country.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is extending an olive branch to Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali in order to secure their return to the regional body, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said.

Recall that the countries renounced their membership of the economic block and withdrawal from it after ECOWAS imposed sanctions on them amid military takeover in the West African countries.

The regional body had announced the reinstatement of Niger and the removal of sanctions that were earlier placed on the country.

Tinubu on Monday disclosed that peaceful efforts are ongoing to facilitate peaceful return of democratic rule in the wantawawy countries and ensure their return to ECOWAS.

He made the disclosure when he spoke during a conference organized by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) on Monday in Abuja.

Tinubu said: “We are making every peaceful effort under my chairmanship of the authority of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to negotiate the peaceful return of democratic governance and membership of the organization by the ECOWAS Member States within the shortest possible time.”

The president, while expressing concern on the return of military coups in the continent, called for a policy debate on improving the performances of global institutions towards addressing the critical issues of sustainable development, peace and security, climate, governance and human rights as well as humanitarian actions in Africa.

The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, urged participants to find innovative and cost-effective strategies in which the Africa Union can collaborate with the UN and the international community to stem the tide of the proliferation of arms and light weapons into Africa, end terrorism and the resurgent insurgency and check the retrogressive return of the military in governance in some areas in Africa