The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States disclosed on Tuesday its plan to constitute an ad hoc mediation committee towards bringing back Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso into the ECOWAS fold.
The First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, disclosed this at the opening of the 2024 2nd Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Kano on Tuesday.
The reports that the sixth ECOWAS Parliament session began in Kano on Monday, with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic absent.
The three countries had last year withdrawn their membership of ECOWAS after they were sanctioned over military takeover of government in the countries.
He said the move by the ECOWAS Parliament was in line with the clarion call made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, for the parliament’s urgent intervention in the crisis.
He said, “You may recall that in his address at the inaugural session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission made the clarion call for the parliament’s urgent intervention in addressing pressing issues in the community.
“The President noted the urgency of joining ongoing efforts aimed at avoiding the disintegration of the regional bloc, which could happen with the departure of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
“We must heed that call with all seriousness and be intentional about playing our roles for the millions of citizens being impacted by these conflicts.
“Against this backdrop, I will, in consultation with my colleagues in the bureau, be proposing the appointment of an ad hoc mediation committee whose mandate will be to work with all stakeholders in getting our brothers to rescind their decision and come home and work towards promoting dialogue with a view to resolving conflicts in the region.
“There’s no doubt that we are stronger together and there is absolutely no alternative to our collective aspirations of a united, peaceful and secure ECOWAS.”
Jibrin disclosed that a parliamentary fact-finding mission was dispatched to the Republic of Togo to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the notable absence of the Togolese delegation, who, by virtue of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the Parliament, deserves the Speakership, and held discussions with national stakeholders on other political issues.
“I am pleased to report that we received a very favorable response from the Togolese authorities that our brothers from Togo will be inaugurated as soon as possible,” he said.
He also stressed a compelling need to build strong collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and undertake joint initiatives aimed at strengthening regional security and advancing development.
He restated the commitment of the parliament to continuing to build a strong collaboration with community institutions and regional parliaments with a view to promoting synergy for the realisation of shared goals.
Jibrin commended Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State for personally gracing the occasion.
In his remarks, Yusuf outlined six major challenges bedeviling the region for quick solutions.
He said the issues include citizenship among the member states, regional security, regional integration, environmental and natural resources issues.
In his remark, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Ambassador Musa Nura, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the community with a view to ensuring peace and economic growth and development in the region.
