ECOWAS Parliament to setup mediation committee on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is to constitute an ad-hoc Mediation Committee to work with all stakeholders towards getting Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to return to the sub-regional body.

The First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, made the disclosure at the opening of the 2024 2nd Extraordinary Session in Kano on Tuesday.

He said the decision was in line with the clarion call made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission for Parliament’s urgent intervention in addressing pressing issues in the community.

“You may recall that in his address at the Inaugural Session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission made the clarion call for Parliament’s urgent intervention in addressing pressing issues in the Community.

“The President noted the urgency of joining ongoing efforts aimed at avoiding the disintegration of the regional bloc, which could happen with the departure of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

“We must heed to that call with all seriousness and be intentional about playing our roles for the millions of citizens being impacted by these conflicts.

“Against this backdrop, I will, in consultation with my colleagues on the Bureau, be proposing the appointment of an Ad hoc Mediation Committee whose mandate will be to work with all stakeholders in getting our brothers to rescind their decision and come home and work towards promoting dialogue with a view to resolving conflicts in the region.

“It’s no doubt that we are stronger together and there is absolutely no alternative to our collective aspirations of a united, peaceful and secure ECOWAS,” Barau said.

He disclosed that a Parliamentary Fact-finding mission was dispatched to the Republic of Togo to ascertain circumstances surrounding the notable absence of the Togolese delegation, who, by virtue of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the Parliament, deserves the Speakership, and held discussions with national stakeholders on other political issues.

“I am pleased to report that we received a very favorable response from the Togolese authorities that our brothers from Togo will be inaugurated as soon as possible,” he said.

He also stressed a compelling need to build strong collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and undertake joint initiatives aimed at strengthening regional security and advancing development.

Barau restated the commitment of the Parliament to continue to build strong collaboration with Community Institutions and Regional Parliaments with a view to promoting synergy for the realization of shared goals.