News:
July 13, 2024
Members of Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament have expressed concern with efforts to bring back to the fold of the sub-regional bloc Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso who have given formal indication to break away from the bloc.
At the ongoing first Ordinary Session of the 6th ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja – Nigeria, when the ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray appeared before the Parliament to present a report on the state of the West Africa sub-regional bloc, a lot of questions popped-up on efforts to bring back the three Sahel Countries.
The Commission President assured the MPs of support in their own initiative to reach out to Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to return to the fold but admonished that the engagement has to be efficient and strategic.
“You should not just go there and talk to anyone who does not have control over the situation and would not be helpful; talk to people who can make the difference, people who have the authority to take decision and change policy position”.
Dr. Touray further explained to the lawmakers that effort was made to invite representatives from Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea but it’s only Guinea that honoured the good gesture by sending a representative to the ongoing session at the parliament.
Additionally, the Authority of Heads of States and Government has instructed that the three Sahel countries be invited to technical meetings and all the security meetings as well as consultative meetings wherever there are meetings.
At the recent Ministerial session they were invited; unfortunate they did not turn up. Guinea took part in the meeting in which they were invited. “We will continue to invite them whenever there are meetings particularly meetings to do with security”, he told the MPs.
Again, as part of the effort to deal with security situation, counter terrorism of which several countries have benefited, one million dollars has been allocated to the three countries to support their effort in related expenses; but Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali rejected the funds.
“But the instructions is to hold on to it whenever they are available they should have access to those funds in their effort to fight counter terrorism efforts”, he affirmed.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com