Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, current head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has called on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to rejoin the bloc during his visit to Guinea-Bissau.
Bio said he is working to persuade the three countries — which withdrew earlier this year and formed the “Alliance of Sahel States” — to return to the regional body, noting his recent trip to Burkina Faso to discuss their demands.
He stressed his intention to understand the reasons behind their withdrawal and find solutions to maintain ECOWAS unity, while highlighting the importance of strengthening cooperation with the Sahel Alliance despite ongoing disagreements.
The call comes amid rising regional tensions in West Africa, which has witnessed a wave of military coups and criticism of ECOWAS’s role in addressing security challenges and foreign interference.
