The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States has urged the reintegration of Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger Republic into the regional bloc, stressing that their return is vital to addressing insecurity, terrorism, and economic fragility in West Africa.
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima made the call in Port Harcourt on Monday at the opening of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar and the Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Ibrahima said the exclusion of the three countries, which have allied with Sahel states, posed a challenge to regional integration and stability. She appealed for sustained dialogue and reconciliation efforts to bring them back into the fold.
“These challenges should encourage us to accelerate the integration process. We cannot ignore the resentment felt by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. We encourage the dialogue initiated with these countries, and we hope to achieve their full reintegration,” she said.
The Speaker also reminded member states of their responsibility to fund ECOWAS institutions through the Community levy, a 0.5 per cent tax on goods imported from outside the region.