By Gloria Ikibah 

The ECOWAS Parliament has commenced a critical series of meetings in Banjul, The Gambia, to address the political, security, socio-economic and humanitarian consequences of the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional body.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Delocalised Meeting, 4th Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Billy Tunkara, said that two key meetings were underway: the Committee of Administration, Finance and Budget, reviewing the Parliament’s 2024 End-Year Budget Performance Report, and the Joint Committee on Political Affairs, Security, African Peer Review Mechanism, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment and Persons with Disabilities, focusing on the impact of the Sahel states’ withdrawal.

He said: “Given the evolving challenges in the region, including economic fluctuations, health crises, and social instability, it is essential for the Parliament’s financial strategies to align with the core principles of sustainability, accountability, and transparency”.

Tunkara lauded the leadership of President Adama Barrow of The Gambia for his commitment to regional integration and thanked the Right Honourable Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly and the Gambian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament for their support. 

“The Gambian people have always taken pleasure in welcoming their brothers and sisters from the Community, an attribution of my homeland that I take great pride in,” he added.

Reflecting on ECOWAS’ history, Tunkara however, he warned that this legacy is now under serious threat. 

“ECOWAS, born in 1975 from the Lagos Treaty, has for five decades embodied the shared aspiration for a common destiny.

“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger marks an unprecedented fracture. These countries, strategic and demographic pillars, have chosen to leave the common ship. This choice, effective since January, threatens not only our achievements but also the future of 400 million citizens,” he said.

The 4th Deputy Speaker outlined the far-reaching impacts of the withdrawal.

• Politically, ECOWAS has lost 20% of its members, weakening its voice on the international stage.

• Security-wise, the withdrawal of key players from the fight against terrorism in the Sahel poses serious risks.

• Socioeconomically, the reinstatement of strict border controls threatens trade, cross-border projects, and humanitarian aid.

• Humanitarian-wise, the isolation could worsen the plight of vulnerable populations.

“Our meeting goes beyond a mere diagnostic exercise,. It aims to rigorously assess the multidimensional impacts, imagine bridges where others see walls, and strengthen our resilience by identifying reforms”, Tunkara emphasized.

He therefore Parliament to produce concrete proposals including bold recommendations for maintaining dialogue with the Sahel states and reforms to consolidate ECOWAS.

The Deputy Speaker stressed the need for introspection and called for a renewed approach based on inclusion, transparent governance, and projects that improve citizens’ lives.

“The simultaneous withdrawal of three Member States is a wake-up call. It compels us to ask: why did the Member States choose to leave? Have we listened enough to their concerns? Have we been able to adapt our model to their realities?

“Let our debates be frank, but always guided by the spirit of fraternity that founded our Community.

“Today, it is up to us to write the next chapter. Despite the challenges, I remain convinced that ECOWAS remains the best bulwark against fragmentation. Although ECOWAS may now be fifteen minus three, nevertheless, our vision remains whole.”

Hon. Tunkara reminded the lawmakers of the founding spirit of ECOWAS in 1975, even as he expressed hope that the meeting in Banjul would mark the beginning of a renaissance. 

“A renaissance where each state, each citizen, recognizes themselves in this common project. A renaissance where cooperation triumphs over selfishness, and where hope prevails over pessimism”, he asserted.