General Abdourahamane Tiani, the military leader of Niger Republic, has declared that his country will not be returning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He noted that Niger, along with its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has “irrevocably turned their backs” on the West African bloc.
Tiani made this announcement at the opening of a summit in Niamey, which included the three Sahelian nations that had previously withdrawn from ECOWAS earlier this year. “Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” stated Tiani.
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed concern over the lack of progress in reintegrating Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into the regional bloc. “Despite our entreaties, in the form of softening of sanctions, invitation of the governments to technical meetings, and request for meetings, we have not yet gotten the right signals from these Member States,” Touray said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja, Touray highlighted the absence of a framework for negotiation with the authorities in the three Sahelian countries regarding their decision to leave ECOWAS.
On January 28, the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially announced their exit from ECOWAS.
