- ECOWAS expressed disappointment over the exit of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, warning it undermines regional cooperation against terrorism and insecurity
- Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah highlighted the unintended security consequences of the three countries’ withdrawal, emphasizing the need for coordinated responses to challenges
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has once again expressed disappointment with the departure of Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso from its fold.
It lamented that the three countries’ exits had unintended consequences, undermining sub-regional coordination and cooperation against terrorism.
Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Conflict, and Security, stated this at Defence Headquarters in Abuja during the 42nd ordinary session of the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff.
Abdel-Fatau Musah acknowledged that the meeting was held two years after the 41st session due to changes in the sub-region that necessitated extraordinary political interventions.
According to him, the 42nd meeting was inevitably delayed due to the sub-region’s acute political development, including cascading coups and the Sahelia States’ announced withdrawal from ECOWAS.
The commissioner revealed that when the three states were engaged, they cited the imposition of “inhumane sanctions for their withdrawal”.
“The countries’ exit from ECOWAS after nearly five decades of diplomatic, political, and security cooperation will have unintended security consequences.
According to him, “Such a withdrawal will inevitably undermine coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, mandatory and transnational organised crime in our region, which situation compels this gathering to also focus deliberations on the reassessment of our peace and security booster going forward.”
He urged ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to complete the deployment planning to stabilise Sierra Leone and operationalise the ECOWAS Logistics Depot at Lungi in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
According to the ambassador, “It is my fervent hope that the deliberations and recommendations of this meeting will further energise and galvanise the region to give further impetus to ongoing uncertain actions and strengthen our collective resolve for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous ECOWAS suit.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, called for increased cooperation to promote regional peace, security, and stability.
“As we develop new military strategies and coordinate regional security to ensure peace, stability, and effective responses to emerging threats, your ability to devise solutions becomes more important than ever.
“As we strive to protect our security and uphold the maintenance of regional peace, stability and security as inclusively stated under the fundamental principles of the Air Force,” reported Badaru.
He also urged the region’s top military leaders to consider the rapidly evolving complex security situation deeply, stating that “the threats we face are multi-faceted, ranging from violence, terrorism, and insurgency to organised crime and piracy.”
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