https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240130/gambia-calls-for-dialog-as-aes-members-leave-ecowas-fm-to-sputnik-africa-1064841516.html
Exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger From ECOWAS 'Not a Surprise' for Gambia: FM to Sputnik Africa
Exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger From ECOWAS 'Not a Surprise' for Gambia: FM to Sputnik Africa
Sputnik Africa
Over the weekend, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a joint communiqué... 30.01.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-01-30T13:52+0100
2024-01-30T13:52+0100
2024-01-30T16:04+0100
alliance of sahel states (aes)
sergey lavrov
burkina faso
mali
niger
economic community of west african states (ecowas)
sub-saharan africa
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/01/1e/1064842142_0:46:3092:1785_1920x0_80_0_0_692dc21bf1014acda8ef3f417651f214.jpg
The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "did not come as a surprise" to The Gambia, Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.Commenting on the decision, Minister Tangara conveyed that it was not unexpected, indicating that The Gambia had foreseen the development. Despite the apparent crisis, he expressed optimism about the possibility of resolving the situation through mutual dialogue and collaboration.Minister Tangara emphasized that the challenges faced by any country in the region have a direct or indirect impact on all countries within the Community.He conveyed hope for a collective and wise approach, stressing the importance of unity and mutual engagement in addressing the withdrawal and preserving the cohesive nature of the ECOWAS family.In his turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country expects problems between members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could be solved through dialogue.Moscow is ready to further contribute to stabilizing the situation in the Sahara-Sahel and other parts of the African continent, the Russian foreign minister added.Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States in a joint communiqué on January 28. The three countries cited the regional organization's failure to "provide assistance to our States in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity."For its part, the organization said it was ready for a "negotiated solution" and stressed that the three countries were important members of the community.The countries have had strained relations with ECOWAS since the military took power in Mali in 2020, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger in 2023.The organization has imposed heavy sanctions on the latter and threatened to use military force to reinstate the ousted authorities. ECOWAS also suspended the three countries from its bodies.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240129/mali-niger-burkina-exit-ecowas-common-aes-currency-expected-next-1064828212.html
burkina faso
mali
niger
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2024
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
alliance of sahel states (aes), sergey lavrov, burkina faso, mali, niger, economic community of west african states (ecowas)
alliance of sahel states (aes), sergey lavrov, burkina faso, mali, niger, economic community of west african states (ecowas)
Exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger From ECOWAS 'Not a Surprise' for Gambia: FM to Sputnik Africa
13:52 30.01.2024 (Updated: 16:04 30.01.2024) Exclusive
Over the weekend, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a joint communiqué. The three military governments cited the regional organization's failure to "provide assistance to our States in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity."
The
withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "did not come as a surprise" to The Gambia, Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara said during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday.
Commenting on the
decision, Minister Tangara conveyed that it was not unexpected, indicating that The Gambia had foreseen the development. Despite the apparent crisis, he expressed optimism about the possibility of resolving the situation through mutual dialogue and collaboration.
"It’s not coming as a surprise. We saw it coming. This is a crisis that, I think, we will be able to solve between brothers because the ECOWAS region is a region where we are all very much interrelated, interconnected," the Gambian minister said in response to a question from Sputnik Africa's correspondent.
Minister Tangara emphasized that the challenges faced by any country in the region have a direct or indirect impact on all countries within the Community.
He conveyed hope for a collective and wise approach, stressing the importance of unity and mutual engagement in addressing the withdrawal and preserving the cohesive nature of the
ECOWAS family.
"I think what we need to do is to engage our brothers and sisters in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, and sit around the table and find a solution so that we can preserve this big family and deal with the issues in the best interest of the region as a whole," Tangara added.
In his turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that his country expects problems between members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could be solved through dialogue.
"With regard to West Africa, ECOWAS, we expect that the problems that have arisen in relations between members can be resolved through equitable, mutually respectful dialogue," Lavrov said at a joint press conference after a meeting with Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara.
Moscow is ready to further contribute to stabilizing the situation in the Sahara-Sahel and other parts of the African continent, the Russian foreign minister added.
Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali
announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States in a joint communiqué on January 28. The three countries cited the regional organization's failure to "provide assistance to our States in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity."
For its part, the organization said it was ready for a "negotiated solution" and stressed that the three countries were important members of the community.
The countries have had strained relations with ECOWAS since the military took power in Mali in 2020, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger in 2023.
The organization has imposed heavy sanctions on the latter and threatened to use military force to reinstate the ousted authorities. ECOWAS also suspended the three countries from its bodies.
