By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Human Rights Activist, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to the withdrawal of Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso from Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) as a serious set back for West Africa.
The federal lawmaker that represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly said it signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue, adding that we lost our African blood brothers because of our Western conditional friends, which is equivalent to sacrificing ones hands to keep wristwatches.
Shehu Sani who reacted via his X account (formerly twitter) said:
“The Withdrawal of Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso from Ecowas is a serious set back for West Africa. It signifies the failure of diplomacy and dialogue. We lost our African blood brothers because of our Western conditional friends. We sacrificed our hands to keep our wristwatches.”
Sundiata Post recalls that the leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita and Niger’s General Abdourahmane Tchiani on Sunday announced the withdrawal of their membership from West African bloc ECOWAS with immediate effect.
The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.
Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
Sundiata Post further recalls that the three countries were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.
They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.
A French military withdrawal from the Sahel — the region along the Sahara desert across Africa — has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to Gulf of Guinea states Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.
The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime on Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.
Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
