By John Ikani
Foreign ministers of three West African nations that experienced military coups, Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, have called for their reinstatement into two crucial regional organizations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).
The ministers – Abdoulaye Diop of Mali, Morissanda Kouyate of Guinea, and Olivia Rouamba of Burkina Faso – made the call in a statement after holding talks in Ouagadougou following a visit by Russian envoy, Sergei Lavrov, to the region.
Lavrov visited Mali to pledge support to West African countries struggling with jihadist activities.
In the joint statement, the ministers expressed their agreement to work together and pool their efforts to push for the lifting of suspensions imposed on them by ECOWAS and the AU.
The ministers also reiterated their commitment to combining the efforts of their countries, along with the rest of the sub-region, to address the growing insecurity in the Sahel region.
The series of coups that took place in the three countries since 2020 resulted in the formation of juntas that have resisted external demands to restore civilian rule.
Mali, in particular, has recently shifted its alliances from France, the region’s former colonial power and traditional ally, to forming close military ties with Russia.
Speculation is rising that Burkina Faso may also follow suit.
Diop spoke about this shift, saying, “This is the first time I have been in Burkina Faso since the struggle of the Burkinabe people, which led to a correction enabling the recovery of sovereignty and territorial integrity in this brother country.”
