Atiku Promises to Bring Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Back Into ECOWAS

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to pursue the return of Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if elected president in 2027.

Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, also said he would consider deploying the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) as part of efforts to strengthen regional security and combat terrorism.

He made the remarks in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, where he outlined his plans for Nigeria and criticised some policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to Atiku, ECOWAS erred by isolating Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso following military takeovers in the three countries.

He argued that the coups should not have brought diplomatic and regional engagement with the countries to an end.

“I will get the ECOWAS leaders to sit down and deliberate, and we will use ECOMOG troops to ensure peace,” he said.

Atiku also faulted Nigeria’s response under Tinubu, who was serving as ECOWAS chairman when the military took power in Niger in 2023.

According to him, “I don’t see why Nigeria should say it will not engage with Niger because there was a coup. Niger and Nigeria are one people.”

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso subsequently withdrew from ECOWAS following disagreements over the regional bloc’s response to Niger’s military takeover. The three nations later formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).