Tinubu Appoints Faye,Gnassingbe As Special Envoys To Mediate Between ECOWAS And Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
President Bola Tinubu announced on Sunday that he has appointed Senegalese President, Diomaye Faye, and Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé as Special Envoys to mediate between the ECOWAS bloc and the nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.
According to Businessday, these appointments were made shortly after Tinubu was re-elected as the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. This move follows the continued resistance of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic to rejoin ECOWAS after military coups brought their current leaders to power.
Tinubu’s mandate was renewed during the 65th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on Sunday in Abuja. The ECOWAS leaders chose continuity and consistency in addressing targets related to security, reconciliation, and development.
President Tinubu was first elected to this leadership position in Guinea-Bissau on July 9, 2023. In his acceptance speech on Sunday, Tinubu emphasized his commitment to “consolidating the values of democracy and upholding the interest of the regional body, which will clock 50 years in 2025.”
The ECOWAS Chairman then announced the appointments of Senegalese President, Bassirou Faye, and Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, as Special Envoys to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic. This was the first time President Faye participated in the meeting.
“I have appointed the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to please become our Special Envoy to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic, along with the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, to do around the clock work with our brothers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, and to coordinate with me and the ECOWAS Commission, where necessary,” Tinubu stated.
Tinubu also expressed his commitment to continuing his service to ECOWAS, noting, “I have accepted to continue the service to the great members and the great minds that are committed to democratic values and our journey in the region. I will continue to serve our interest and build on democratic values and the structure that we inherited. Thank you very much.”
Earlier in his speech, President Tinubu called on the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to work towards establishing and maintaining a regional standby force to enhance the community’s security and economic progress. He highlighted the urgent need for such a force in light of increasing security threats in the region.
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