Handle withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger membership with tact, group counsels ECOWAS
A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has counseled the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to handle the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic from being members of the body with tact and caution.
Peace Pro specifically urged ECOWAS to delay its response to the withdrawal of the member-states.
Peace Pro asked the West African body to assess its conduct and approaches over time as well as its mid and long-term plan, as well as its strategic interest, vis-a-vis the implication of withdrawal of the affected countries and their foreign allies before articulating its position.
Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat explained that the withdrawal of the three member-states had political, economic, and security implications for the region, hinting that “the effect will be positive or negative, depending on how ECOWAS handles the new development.”
Hamzat explained that “this development, as shocking as it may be, could assist the region to transform itself and become the necessary catalyst for West Africa’s rejuvenation.
“This is why we would advise ECOWAS not to respond rashly to the development of momentary spotlight, ” adding that “the body should overview its conduct and approaches over time, its short and long term plan, as well as the strategic implication before taking any position.”
