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Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
3 weeks ago
Overview
ECOWAS: Niger, Mali, B’Faso exit may worsen Sahel insurgency, ex-envoys warn
Former diplomats on Thursday warned that the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States could undermine regional stability, potentially escalating insurgency and extremism in the Sahel. Their exit, which became official on Wednesday, January 29, has raised concerns about weakened security cooperation in a region already plagued by terrorism and violent extremism.
Retired Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode raised concerns about Nigeria’s diminishing influence in regional security, noting that the situation is unfolding under Nigeria’s leadership of ECOWAS. “The existence of these countries is unfortunate because it is happening under Nigeria’s President’s leadership of the sub-regional body. It also portends a reduction of influence for Nigeria as a regional powerhouse,” Amedu-Ode noted.
He warned that without Nigeria’s active participation, managing security challenges in the region would become even more difficult. “If Nigeria is not playing its part in the multinational joint task force, this zone could become a vulnerable entry point for insurgents into Nigeria,” he cautioned. The ex-envoy called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint a special envoy to engage the three nations diplomatically and prevent further deterioration of relations.
More: https://punchng.com/ecowas-niger-mali-bfaso-exit-may-worsen-sahel-insurgency-ex-envoys-warn/
