ECOWAS strives to keep Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in fold with parliamentary diplomacy

In a proactive move to address the escalating tensions within West Africa, Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, announced that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is employing parliamentary diplomacy to counter the alarming threats from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso regarding their potential exit from the regional bloc.

Kalu reassured stakeholders that there is no immediate cause for concern over the perceived existential threats posed by violent extremism and the exit threats from these three nations.

He emphasized that ECOWAS is taking significant steps to engage with them diplomatically.

“There are already mechanisms in place, through what is called parliamentary diplomacy, to reach out to them. Letters have been sent, and very soon, some of us will start visiting those countries to engage the heads of government,” he stated.

The Deputy Speaker highlighted the importance of open dialogue, expressing a commitment to welcome these nations back into the ECOWAS family.

“We need them. We’ll tell them, for instance, that perhaps they were offended by one or two things. But let us sit down again and discuss. You can’t just forget them and say it doesn’t matter; they can’t go on their own. We have to reach out and emphasize that we are better off as one family. I’m sure it’s going to work,” he affirmed.

In addressing concerns about the financial implications of a potential exit by these countries, Kalu reassured that ECOWAS would remain financially stable. He explained that the organization has a defined revenue structure, with the Community Levy being just one of many sources of income.

“We want to make sure that we streamline and understand where our money is coming from. If these sources are not enough, we will explore other avenues, as there are multiple development agencies interested in our sub-region,” he concluded.