President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali renounced as members of the bloc, is reportedly making peaceful efforts to welcome them back into its fold.
Recall that in December, ECOWAS suspended Niger Republic's membership following a coup that deposed its democratically elected president. In reaction, the junta and Mali and Burkina Faso announced their intention to leave the organization.
The regional body announced Niger's restoration and the lifting of previously imposed restrictions.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a conference hosted by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development (SCDDD), Tinubu stated that under his chairmanship as the chairman of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, every peaceful effort is being made to negotiate the peaceful return of democratic governance and membership in the organisation by the ECOWAS Member States as soon as possible.
Though the president expressed concern about the resurgence of military coups on the continent, he also called for a policy discussion on how to improve the way global organizations perform in tackling the pressing issues of human rights, governance, sustainable development, peace and security, and climate change.
Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on behalf of the president, urged participants to come up with creative and practical ways that the Africa Union can work with the UN and the international community to stop the spread of arms and light weapons into the continent, put an end to terrorism and insurgencies, and prevent the military from taking on more roles in some African countries' governance.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the founder of SCDDD and the former chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, urged for a reform of the UN Security Council so that it is not immobilized by the abuse and overuse of veto power, as it is demonstrated in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
