ECOWAS to Persuade Military Leaders to Return to Constitutional Governments
President Bola Tinubu, the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to persuading military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to return their nations to constitutional governments.
At a meeting with ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, Nigeria, President Tinubu emphasized that the organization’s goal is to ensure regional stability and security through the protection of constitutional governance. He acknowledged that the past few years have been challenging for ECOWAS, with three members indicating their exit from the organization.
However, President Tinubu emphasized that ECOWAS will work hard to persuade these countries to return to the fold. He emphasized that no single individual is more important than the collective heads of state in the region, and that ECOWAS will offer a hand of friendship to help them return to the organization.
The ECOWAS chairman also commended the defence chiefs for their commitment to regional stability and protection of constitutional governance. He stressed that the solution to terrorism and other regional challenges lies in the hands of the member states and emphasized the importance of working together to achieve long-term stability.
According to General Christopher Musa, chairman ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff, discussions at the meeting focused on enhancing the capacity of ECOWAS’ military component, including the proposed standby force. He announced that a decision had been made to deploy 1,200 troops to Sierra Leone, with countries pledging to support this effort.
The ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff also discussed the importance of balancing military efforts with political components of good governance, peace, and security in achieving long-term stability. General Musa pledged the commitment of the defence chiefs to work in unison to ensure the security and safety of the West African sub-region.
