Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has confirmed that the ECOWAS Parliament is actively using diplomatic mechanisms to reintegrate Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, amid their potential exit from the regional bloc.
In an interview with journalists in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Kalu reassured that the ECOWAS Parliament is committed to maintaining unity within the West African community, despite concerns over threats posed by violent extremism and the potential departure of the three Sahelian nations.
Kalu disclosed that “parliamentary diplomacy” is being employed to address the situation, with letters already dispatched to the governments of the three nations. He added that a delegation from ECOWAS Parliament is preparing to visit these countries to engage with their heads of government and discuss the benefits of remaining within the regional bloc.
“We’ll open up the doors for them to come back to the family. We need them,” Kalu emphasized, expressing optimism that the diplomatic efforts would be successful. “You can’t just forget them and say it doesn’t matter; that they can go on their own. No! We have to reach out to them and say we are better off as one family.”
Kalu also addressed concerns about the financial impact of a potential exit by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He assured that ECOWAS would not be financially threatened, noting that the Community Levy is just one of several revenue sources for the organization. He mentioned that ECOWAS is exploring additional ways to generate funds, including engaging with development agencies and other stakeholders interested in the subregion’s stability.
“There are multiple ways of raising funds for the parliament, as well as the community,” Kalu said, emphasizing the need to streamline ECOWAS’s financial resources and ensure the organization’s resilience.
Kalu concluded by expressing confidence in the success of the diplomatic efforts and reaffirmed ECOWAS Parliament’s commitment to fostering unity and stability within the region.
