The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has expressed growing concerns about the refusal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to rejoin the regional bloc, despite ongoing efforts to reconcile.
ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, raised the issue during an induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar in Lomé, Togo, on Wednesday.
Ibrahima noted that the three nations, which withdrew from the 15-member ECOWAS in January 2024 due to disagreements over military takeovers, have remained unresponsive to efforts urging their return. “We have taken a lot of initiatives… written to the three countries, but they have not responded,” she stated.
Despite the challenges, West African leaders remain committed to continued diplomatic outreach. Sierra Leonean Parliamentarian Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama also highlighted the impact of the countries’ absence on their citizens, calling for increased reconciliation efforts.
ECOWAS had initially imposed sanctions and threatened military intervention in Niger following the coups. In response, the three countries not only withdrew from the bloc but also formed the “Alliance of Sahel States” (AES), aiming to consolidate their independence and regional cooperation.
Earlier this year, AES leaders announced plans to issue new biometric passports, further cementing their withdrawal from ECOWAS. Malian junta leader Assimi Goita confirmed the rollout of the new passports, intended to harmonize travel within the Sahel region and beyond.
