Tinubu re-elected as Ecowas chairman with a mandate to resolve the Sahelian crisis

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has been re-elected as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) at today's meeting of the regional sub-group with a mandate to sort out the growing political crisis in the Sahel region.

Last year, President Tinubu assumed the rotational chairmanship of Ecowas and in line with convention, was due to serve in the role for a year. Today, however, his tenure has been extended by another year with new Senegalese president Diomaye Faye, expected to have taken over, apparently losing interest in the role.

At the 65th Ecowas ordinary session, which held in Abuja today, President Tinubu was re-elected with mandate to 4resiolve the constitutional crisis in Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso. All three nations have been the subject of the military seizing power lately, claiming it was necessary to fight terrorism, which has led to Ecowas sanctions against them.

In response, the three Sahelian nations have formed a coalition and withdrawn from Ecowas, accusing the regional body of meddling in their internal affairs. During his opening remark at the summit, President Tinubu urged Ecowas member states to make financial commitments to help in the battle against terrorism in the region.

President Tinubu said: “As we move to operationalise the Ecowas Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasise that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources. We must therefore ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance in order to counter the insecurity and stabilise our region."

Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso said they have irrevocably turned their backs on Ecowas and have instead formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During the AES maiden summit in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, Niger Republic’s military leader Abdourahamane Tiani accused Ecowas of incompetence in tackling jihadists’ incursion into the region.

During his first term, President Tinubu highlighted the alarming levels of insecurity and the increasing pattern of military coups in the region, stressing that these issues demand urgent and concerted efforts by all member states. Just weeks after President Tinubu assumed office, Niger Republic fell into the hands of coup plotters when President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by members of his guard led by his commander, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.