The military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tiani, says his country won’t be returning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Tiani noted that his neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, have also “irrevocably turned their backs” on the West African bloc, ECOWAS.
The military dictator disclosed this at the opening of a summit in Niamey between the three Sahelian nations who pulled out of the larger group earlier this year.
“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States),” said Tiani.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, had earlier expressed concern that despite several efforts being made by the regional bloc to bring Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger back to the fold, the three countries were not showing any sign of returning.
“Despite our entreaties, in the form of softening of sanctions, invitation of the governments to technical meetings, and request for meetings, we have not yet gotten the right signals from these Member States,“ Touray said.
While speaking at the opening ceremony of the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the bloc, in Abuja, Touray said ECOWAS was yet to establish a framework for negotiation with the authorities in the three Sahelian countries on their decision to withdraw their membership from the Community.
On January 28, the three military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their exit from ECOWAS.
