President Bola Tinubu stated that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will continue to urge the military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rejoin the organization.
“We will make every effort to extend a hand of friendship and provide compelling reasons for them to return,” Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said at a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Friday.
Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, shared the meeting’s outcome in a statement titled ‘ECOWAS’ Hand of Friendship Still Open to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, Says President Tinubu.’
Tinubu’s remarks come about three weeks after he suggested holding a special session to address the future of the economic bloc. On Friday, he emphasized the commitment to enhance security and uphold constitutional governance in the region.
“It has been a challenging tenure for me since three members indicated their exit. We will work hard to persuade them to return, whichever way. No one man is smarter than the group of heads that is here.”
The ECOWAS chairman commended the defence chiefs for their commitment to regional stability and protection of constitutional governance.
He also affirmed the commitment of member states to invest in its $2.6bn Standby Force, describing the initiative as the solution to terrorism in the Sahel.
“The solution to terrorism and other challenges lies in our hands. We have to do it together. The ECOWAS standby force must be ready.
“We will continue to invest in this, as well as in the economic prosperity and opportunities across our region,’’ President Tinubu said.