Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, acting as the ECOWAS facilitator, called for dialogue and peaceful reconciliation with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which recently separated from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The military leaders of these three countries formed their own confederation earlier this year. In response, ECOWAS heads of state met in Abuja on Sunday, expressing concern over the “lack of progress in interactions” with the new leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who came to power through recent coups.
President Faye, in a video statement on Monday, emphasized the importance of reconciliation and dialogue. “We cannot stand idly by,” he said, committing to efforts aimed at fostering peace and bringing all parties closer together.
The departure of these countries was partly driven by their accusations that France was manipulating ECOWAS and failing to provide adequate support for anti-jihadist efforts. ECOWAS has warned of potential regional disintegration, but its attempts to reintegrate the seceding nations have so far been unsuccessful. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have declared their withdrawals “irreversible.”
President Faye, along with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, has been appointed as a facilitator in the negotiations with these countries. Faye noted that, according to Article 91 of ECOWAS’s founding treaty, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger remain members for another year. He expressed hope that within this period, enough discussions would take place to reconcile differences and strengthen the organization to better address shared challenges.
On Sunday, ECOWAS announced plans to draft an “emergency plan” to address the tense relations with the breakaway countries and to prepare for any contingencies.
