Atiku promises to revive ECOMOG, reintegrate Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso into ECOWAS

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to work towards bringing Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso back into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), if elected.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) said Nigeria and ECOWAS members adopted the wrong approach by isolating the three Sahel countries after military coups brought juntas to power.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Atiku said he would push ECOWAS leaders to reopen dialogue with the three countries and consider the deployment of ECOMOG troops to strengthen regional security and combat terrorism.

He argued that Niger, Nigeria and other affected countries share deep historical and cultural ties that should not be abandoned because of military takeovers.

“I will ensure that there is understanding and that Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali return to ECOWAS”, Atiku said.

The three countries withdrew from ECOWAS after the regional bloc threatened military intervention in Nigeria following the 2023 coup. They subsequently formed the alliance of Sahel States.

The former Vice-President also criticised the approach taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was ECOWAS chairman when Niger ‘s military seized power, saying the bloc should have maintained engagement with the junta-led countries.

His proposal comes as regional tensions and security chalk continue to dominate political discrimination ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, 79, is seeking the presidency for the sixth time after five previous attempts.

He contested the presidency in 2007, 2019 and 2023, losing the general elections, while he was unsuccessful in securing his party’s presidential ticket in the 2011 and 2015 contests.

Atiku emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023 but lost to Muhammad Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu respectively.

He served as Vice-President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999-2007. Atiku was initially elected governor of Adamawa State under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was selected as Obasanjo’s running mate.

-9News Nigeria.