The African Union Commission has stated its readiness to broker dialogue in the West African sub-region for amicable settlement of the confrontation between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWA) and the three nations that withdrew from the bloc.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger which were sanctioned by ECOWAS over military intervention in governance withdrew from the bloc on Sunday.
The withdrawal of these landlocked Sahel countries has caused concerns in the sub-region, necessitating the AU commission’s advice.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said on Tuesday that he learnt, with deep regret, the announcement of the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS.
The Chairperson called for the pooling of all efforts so that the irreplaceable Unity of ECOWAS be preserved and African solidarity be enhanced.
The African Union Commission Chairperson calls upon the Regional Leaders to intensify dialogue between the leaders of ECOWAS and the three above mentioned countries.
In this regard, he expresses the full readiness of the African Union Commission to give all assistance, within its power, to ensure the success of the logic of brotherly dialogue far from any external interference from any quarter.
Meanwhile, the three countries have formally written t ECOWAS of their withdrawal but inside sources report that bloc has refused the withdrawal.
