New ECOWAS Chairman initiates moves to bring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger back to the bloc

Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in June, has expressed optimism about reintegrating Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into the regional bloc.

In his address during a courtesy visit from Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, at Sierra Leone’s State House, President Bio stressed the importance of building robust partnerships with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) nations. He said,

“It is imperative that we build a stronger relationship between ECOWAS and the AES nations and harness this partnership for the advancement of our Community.”