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Worries Over Unwillingness Of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger To Restore Relations With ECOWAS

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
 
The Economic Community of West African States Parliament has shown concerns again over the declination of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to return to ECOWAS despite the appeals from the regional leaders.
 
 
Speaker of the Community Parliament, Honourable Memounatou Ibrahima, disclosed this during the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Lome, Togo.
 
 
The Speaker noted that the three countries, which announced their exit from the 15-member ECOWAS in January 2024, following disagreements over military takeover of governments in the three countries, have not responded to calls for their return to the region’s most important organisation.
 
 
She said: “We have taken a lot of initiatives at the level of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Council of Ministers and at all levels. We have written to the three countries but they have not responded”. The Speaker assured that West African leaders will continue to reach out to them for reconciliation.
 
 
A member of the Parliament Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama from Sierra Leone had raised concerns over the continued absence of the three countries and the implications for the citizens of the countries and called to intensity efforts to reconcile with the estranged countries and bring them back.
 
 
Naijablitznews.com recalled that Burkina Faso, Mali and Republic of Niger under military governments had made nljnkwn their intention to exit ECOWAS after it threatened to invade Niger Republic, following the overthrow of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani in a coup in July 2023.
 
 
Prior to the coup in Niger, Burkina Faso’s military had also overthrown the democratically elected government of Mac Christian Kabore, while in Mali Colonel Assimi Goita had forced out the democratic government of Boubakar Keita.  
 
 
This made ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the three countries but it was perhaps the threat of military intervention to restore democracy in Niger by ECOWAS forces that upset the trio.
 
 
The three military leaders have in recent times taken actions that have estranged them further from ECOWAS. They held their first joint summit in July 2024 in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, where they announced a confederation of three Sahel states and adopted a joint statement for a treaty to set up the confederation.
 
 
“This summit marks a decisive step for the future of our common space. Together, we will consolidate the foundations of our true independence, a guarantee of true peace and sustainable development through the creation of the ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ Confederation,’” Capt. Ibrahim Traore, the leader of Burkina Faso, wrote on X.
 
 
“The AES (Alliance of Sahel States) is full of enormous natural potential which, if properly exploited, will guarantee a better future for the people of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso,” Traore added.
 
 
Earlier this September, the three leaders said they will introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from ECOWAS in favour of a new Sahel alliance.
 
 
Also in September Burkina Faso had threatened   to launch new passports without the ECOWAS logo.
 
 
“In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area and facilitating the mobility of our citizens throughout the world”, Malian junta leader Assimi Goita had announced.
 
 
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Saudi Arabia ‘s Aramco Helicopter Crashes, Kills 14

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A helicopter crash in Saudi Arabia killed 14 Saudi citizens on Sunday, the kingdom’s official press agency reported, adding that the aircraft belonged to state oil giant Aramco.

The Saudi Press Agency, citing an official at the energy ministry, reported the helicopter crashed in Ras Tanura in the country’s east.

“The accident claimed the lives of all 14 passengers, all Saudi citizens,” the agency said, adding that an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the crash.

Aramco says it operates more than 60 aircraft, including helicopters serving more than 300 heliports in Saudi Arabia, making it one of the largest corporate fleets in the region.

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The deadly accident comes as oil-rich Gulf nations seek to ramp up their output following Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the export of oil and gas.

The Gulf monarchy did not indicate the incident was in any way connected to a hostile attack.
During the Middle East war, Iranian attacks had targeted energy facilities in the Gulf.

Ras Tanura is home to one of the largest refineries in the Middle East, with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day, and is critical to Saudi Arabia’s energy sector.

The refinery has been targeted several times, notably during an Iranian drone attack at the beginning of the conflict, which caused a fire and forced a partial shutdown.

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Riyadh said in April that the weeks-long attacks had disrupted several production operations at key facilities, with refineries in Ras Tanura as well as Jubail, Yanbu and Riyadh targeted.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude exporter, produces a little over 10 million bpd.

AFP

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SAD! Bandits’ bomb hits vehicle, kills one, injures many in Sokoto

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An Improvised Explosive Device, IED, planted by alleged bandits along the Kurawa–Sabon Birni road in Sokoto State on Sunday hit a vehicle, killing one person and injuring many passengers.

The incident raised fresh concerns over the growing use of explosive devices by criminal groups operating in parts of the North-West.

The vehicle was said to be conveying passengers from surrounding communities to Sabon Birni when it ran over the explosive device, triggering a blast that severely damaged the vehicle and left several occupants injured.

A security analyst based in the area, Bashir Guyawa, disclosed the incident in a post on his Facebook page.

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Guyawa described the incident as another reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting communities along the border axis.

He said the vehicle was on a routine passenger trip when the explosion occurred.

“The vehicle was conveying passengers early this morning on their way to Sabon Birni when the unfortunate incident happened,” he wrote.

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Twelve seriously injured in Kano farmers-herders clash

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Twelve people were injured in a clash between farmers from Larabar Gadan Sarki and herders from the communities of Majawa and Karade in Warawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The chairman of Warawa Local Government, Lamido Sunusi Ahmad, disclosed this in a statement issued by his media aide, Musleem Garindau.

The statement said the council chairman visited the injured victims at Wudil General Hospital and directed that the local government should cover the cost of their treatment until they had fully recovered.

He also commended community leaders and security personnel for their swift intervention, noting that calm had been restored to the affected communities.

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The chairman urged residents to refrain from spreading rumours or engaging in any act capable of escalating tensions and instead embrace dialogue to promote peaceful coexistence.

Speaking further, the Vice Chairman of Warawa Local Government, Hon. Ibrahim Abdu Madari, explained that the conflict involved residents of the communities, all of whom are indigenous to the area.

He said reports indicated that the violence began after a cow strayed into a farmer’s field and ate some crops. The farmer allegedly beat the cow, prompting its owner to assault the farmer, and the disagreement later escalated into a wider clash.

He also reiterated his appeal to residents to live peacefully and resolve disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding.

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