The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) commends the initiative by ECOWAS to extend an invitation to the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger for the official launch of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee in Accra.
The Network supports the initiative by ECOWAS to ease tensions and foster diplomacy in a bid to sustain the common heritage, shared history, and longstanding socio-cultural ties of the peoples.
As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network urges the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.
WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand, remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.
Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS even if the exit is irreversible.
