Atiku Abubakar, former vice president and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has vowed to revive the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG).
In an interview aired on BBC Hausa, Mr Abubakar promised to return military-led African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, to ECOWAS.
“I will convene ECOWAS leader and do meeting. In my advice, all ECOMOG security will come together to have peace in Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia. We join force together like we did in the past and restore peace and have election.
“And they have passed us in democracy. I see no reason that Nigeria will not partner with Niger because there was change in government to military. What is our concern with changing of government in Niger? What is our business? We are one with Nigeria because soldiers overthrew civilian and you left them out of ECOWAS,” the politician stated.
Mr Abubakar further condemned the way the international organisation handled the countries’ departure, vowing to restore unity and foster cooperation among ECOWAS members if elected in 2027.
“I will try those that left ECOWAS that Nigeria force to leave ECOWAS like Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. I will try to understand each and return them back to the union because the community (ECOWAS) will bring hope to our challenges especially our youths with other country,” he added.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger withdrew from ECOWA due to severe political tensions, punitive sanctions following military coups, and disagreements over regional security and sovereignty.
The trio said ECOWAS had deviated from its founding principles of brotherhood, solidarity and mutual aid and is currently under the influence of foreign power.
The development forced the organisation to impose economic and financial sactions on the countries over their decision.
While the sanctions have been lifted, the three countries have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) through the Liptako-Gourma Charter which established a framework for collective defence and mutual assistance.