The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) has again lamented that the withdrawal of the three Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the regional bloc, which has been together for the past 50 years, has been a challenging experience.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Delocalised Meeting in Banjul, Gambia, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., while briefing the media at the closing ceremony of a five-day meeting, expressed the parliament’s desire to see the withdrawn countries return to the community.
Senator Snowe Jr. stressed the political, social, economic, and humanitarian impact of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the ECOWAS Parliament, and urged the three countries to reconsider their decision and return to the regional bloc.
He said, “We want you back. Let us come together as a team. No matter what, we agree to disagree,” he said.
He emphasized the need to foster unity and highlighted the importance of regional integration and cooperation, even as he warned of the potential consequences of the withdrawal on the socio-economic well-being of citizens in the Sahel region.
The three Sahel countries officially opted out of ECOWAS earlier this year, following disagreements and alleged deviation of ECOWAS from its founding principles and what they perceived as an overreach in imposing sanctions following military takeovers.
Also, the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Women in Parliament, and Oppressions with Disability, Hon. Veronica Sessay, appealed to the three countries to put aside their differences and work together with the community.
“We need you people, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. We are a bloc. We should be working together,” she said.
Sessay, who is also the leader of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarian Association (ECOFEPA), highlighted the importance of unity and cooperation among member states, citing the example of ECOWAS’s intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone during times of conflict.
“We’ve been helping each other. Like for us, who faced the war in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We appreciated the cause that was done by ECOWAS in their intervention to help us coil down the situation in Sierra Leone,” she said.
She also emphasised the impact of conflict on women and children, saying, “When there is a problem, who faced the bulk of it? It’s women and children.” She appealed to the countries to consider the impact of their decision on these vulnerable groups.
A Committee Member, Hon. Zainab Gimba in her closing remarks, expressed gratitude to the authorities and people of The Gambia for their warm reception and hospitality.
“We were deeply touched by the warm, fraternal, and gracious reception accorded to us by the authorities and the people of the Republic of The Gambia.
“We hold in high regard the invaluable and decisive role that the Republic of The Gambia continues to play in advancing regional integration and development within ECOWAS institutions, and the ECOWAS Parliament in particular,” Gimba said.
