The Acting Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin has revealed that efforts must be made to return the aggrieved nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to the ECOWAS bloc in order to enhance the West African region’s security.
Daily News 24 reports that Senator Jibrin revealed this on Tuesday during the opening of the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament holding in Kano state.
The Senator, who is leading the ECOWAS Parliamentary session, said the exit of the three countries from the ECOWAS bloc have led to increased criminal activities and terrorism by non-state actors within the sub-region.
Recall that the Republics of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have quit ECOWAS after heavy economic sanctions were slammed on them following military coups in the three countries, which have toppled democratically elected governments.
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The three countries, which were part of the now 12-member bloc, had accused the ECOWAS of becoming a “threat to member states” due to what they described as “influence of foreign countries on the bloc”.
They also accused the ECOWAS of not helping them fight terrorists and insurgents who have been perpetrating violence on innocent citizens of the countries.
It is also understood that all the three countries have boycotted the ongoing ECOWAS parliament.
However, in his remarks during the opening ceremony of the regional parliament, Senator Jibrin revealed that efforts were being made to return the three aggrieved nations into the ECOWAS bloc.
Senator, Jibrin observed that the exit of the three countries have worsened insecurity, apparently because of lack of cooperation with the other members of the community.
According to him “You may recall that in his address at the Inaugural Session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission made the clarion call for Parliament’s urgent intervention in addressing pressing issues in the Community.
“He noted the urgency of joining ongoing efforts aimed at avoiding the disintegration of the regional bloc, which could happen with the departure of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. He, also, emphasized the need to confront non-state groups that are competing for control of our resources and pushing states to the margins.
“These have led to unprecedented levels of insecurity, especially in the Sahel where armed groups, violent extremists and criminal groups are operating and causing immense suffering for our citizens.”
The Acting Speaker added that the ECOWAS parliament would raise an Ad-Hoc Committee to mediate between the three countries in order to rescind their decision to leave the community.
“We must heed to that call with all seriousness and be intentional about playing our roles for the millions of citizens being impacted by these conflicts.
“Against this backdrop, I will, in consultation with my colleagues on the Bureau, be proposing the appointment of an Ad hoc Mediation Committee whose mandate will be to work with all stakeholders in getting our brothers to rescind their decision and come home and work towards promoting dialogue with a view to resolving conflicts in the region.
“It’s no doubt that we are stronger together and there is absolutely no alternative to our collective aspirations of a united, peaceful and secure ECOWAS,” he said.
Senator Barau added that within just two months of its inauguration, the ECOWAS Parliament has achieved many feats.
“Within this short period, the ECOWAS Parliament participated in the Third Parliamentary Policy Dialogue on the Protection of Vulnerable Targets against terrorism, which was hosted by the United Nations Office on Counter Terrorism, a Capacity Building Training on Labor Migration Governance under the auspices of the African Union Commission and the International Conference on enhancing the role, relevance, and effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice through the strengthening of synergies between the Court and national stakeholders, which was hosted by our sister Institution the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice,” he said.
