.Bloc will talk about the lifting of sanctions in Niger at a unprecedented summit
A brand new transfer by the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) to return Burkina Faso, Niger and Mail to the group could hit a wall as former head of state and one of many founding fathers of the sub-regional physique, Normal Yakubu Gowon (rtd) yesterday declined an invite to enterprise into the crises plaguing the group.
Nigeria's Ministry of Overseas Affairs, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Fee, had invited journalists to a “press convention” with Gowon on the group's headquarters in Abuja at 9am.
He was anticipated to talk about the present state of affairs on the regional stage relating to coups and subsequent threats by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to depart the bloc, and maybe suggest lasting options to the problem.
Gowon's invitation was one other step aimed toward establishing peace among the many member states. However two hours later there was no signal of his arrival. As an alternative, data was filtered that the elder statesman could have declined the invitation.
As if to rid themselves of the controversy, the assembly location was moved to a close-by resort the place journalists needed to wait one other hour earlier than organizers introduced that the assembly had been postponed. No new date was set for the occasion.
Recall that on January 28, the three army juntas introduced their intention to depart the physique over the accusation that ECOWAS would turn out to be a risk to its members, that it might be “beneath the affect of overseas powers and betraying its founding rules. “
A day later, leaders expressed concern concerning the international locations' choice, noting that unelected leaders have been taking a public stance to disclaim their individuals the sovereign proper to make elementary decisions.
ECOWAS has referred to as on the three international locations to return to civilian rule, imposing sanctions and denying them plans for long-term democratic transitions.
Not too long ago, the Mediation and Safety Council (MSC) on the Ministerial stage, held in Abuja, urged aggrieved international locations to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation.
Nigeria's Minister of Overseas Affairs and Chairman of the MSC, Yusuf Tuggar, identified that their choice to withdraw from the Group poses yet one more problem and that members have dedicated themselves within the spirit of cooperation to drawback and uphold the values of the Group. group.
Furthermore, ECOWAS will maintain a unprecedented summit in Abuja on February 24, with Niger anticipated to be a key matter of debate. The summit comes amid hypothesis that sanctions imposed on the nation after the army takeover in July 2023 could also be lifted.
The group imposed sanctions on Niger after the army ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Nevertheless, on the December 2023 summit, the bloc signaled a willingness to ease the embargo if sure situations have been met, together with the discharge of the deposed chief and an outlined transition timeline.
Latest experiences recommend that Normal Abdourahmane Tiani, Niger's present chief, is open to Bazoum's launch, however the former president has reportedly refused.
The event has added new intrigue to the upcoming assembly.
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria yesterday on the finish of the African Union (AU) Normal Meeting in Ethiopia.
He left for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday, February 15, to take part within the thirty seventh Peculiar Session of the AU Meeting of Heads of State and Authorities.
In the course of the summit, Tinubu was named AU Champion for Human Sources for Well being and Group Well being Supply Partnership.
The president additionally met together with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday and mentioned methods to enhance commerce, business and cultural relations between the 2 international locations.
