The leaders of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS have appointed President Bassiorou Faye of Senegal to get breakaway Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic back into the fold.
This was one of the highlights of a summit held in Abuja at which Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu was re-elected Chairman for a second term of one year and came just a day after the three counties, run by the military, intensified their break-away plans on a new Alliance of Sahel States.
In a communique read by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Alieu Tourey, the sub-regional leaders expressed frustration at efforts to get the junta in the three countries to continue to dialogue with ECOWAS.
MUST READ:ECOWAS To Converge On Abuja Over Socio-Political, Economic Challenges
The summit also agreed that Faye, who was only elected Senegalese President a few months ago, be joined by the more experienced Faure Gnassigbe of Togo in the mediation efforts.
On the single regional currency plan, the summit asked the Commission to follow up on the convergence plans drawn up.
The communique added that ECOWAS remains committed to free movement of persons within the sub-region and good governance.
Seven presidents and one vice president from Cote D’ ivoire, attended the summit. Three other leaders, including those of Benin Republic, Cape Verde and Togo were represented by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
