Outgoing ECOWAS Chair and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a strong appeal for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to return to the West African regional bloc, urging unity and cooperation amid growing regional insecurity and political instability. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on June 22 in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized that “the strength of our region lies in our unity”, as the organization marked its 50th anniversary.
The summit comes at a critical juncture for ECOWAS, following the formal withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in January 2025, after years of growing tensions with the bloc over military takeovers and sanctions. The three countries have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), pledging to pursue joint security and economic strategies outside ECOWAS frameworks. Tinubu’s appeal was made during his final address as ECOWAS Chairman, before he handed over the rotating leadership to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone. He called for renewed diplomacy to resolve differences and reintegrate the Sahel states, stressing that collaboration is essential to tackle terrorism, economic hardship, and democratic backsliding in the region.
“There’s no challenge we cannot overcome through dialogue and mutual respect,” Tinubu said, reiterating Nigeria’s support for mediation efforts led by Senegal, Ghana, and other member states. Recent developments suggest a possible diplomatic thaw. A May 22 meeting in Bamako between ECOWAS and AES foreign ministers opened the door for discussions on shared political and security interests. High-level delegations from ECOWAS have since traveled to Niamey, Bamako, and Ouagadougou, signaling a willingness to explore common ground. The summit also reviewed pressing regional issues, including the slow deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force, the surge in violent extremism, sluggish post-COVID economic recovery, and threats to democratic governance following a series of recent coups.
While the ECOWAS Commission urged stronger institutional responses to insecurity and constitutional violations, observers say the bloc’s influence is increasingly being tested by geopolitical shifts and growing dissatisfaction among member states with perceived external interference. President Bio, in his acceptance speech, promised to continue reconciliation efforts and strengthen ECOWAS’s role in ensuring regional peace and integration. The road to reunification with the Sahel states remains uncertain, but the Abuja summit highlighted a growing consensus that diplomacy—not isolation—is the best path forward for a fractured region facing shared threats.
