ABUJA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday said the interest and welfare of the citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger remained a priority for the leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), assuring that diplomacy and wisdom will be the guiding principles in reintegrating the countries into the regional bloc.
Receiving visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, said the leadership of the three countries had been so far reluctant in bringing out transition programs with clear dates.
"Our relationship of mutual respect will continue as we reappraise the situation in the three countries. What I can assure is that we will not give tolerance to unconstitutional governments," the Nigerian president said to Steinmeier, who is on a three-day official visit to the West African nation. "We will continue to lead by example. We have innocent citizens who are victims of the military. We will continue to explore diplomatic channels to navigate without punishing these innocent people."
Tinubu told the German leader that the regional body will leave the door open for the return of democracy in the affected countries, noting this is what ECOWAS has always stood for.
On Jan. 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger jointly declared an intention to withdraw from ECOWAS in response to earlier sanctions imposed by the regional bloc to pressure military juntas in those countries to return to constitutional order. The move sparked concerns among the international community and ECOWAS later lifted the sanctions.
In his response to Tinubu, Steinmeier, who also had a meeting Wednesday with Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, said the re-integration of the three West African countries will have a significant impact on the economy and security of the West Coast.
Noting the importance of regional cooperation in global development, the German leader said that emergency plans should be put in place for future economic cooperation in the African sub-region.
"For Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, there are serious security and economic consequences for not carrying on together. We understand why ECOWAS security members are insisting on diplomacy," he added.
Steinmeier's visit to Nigeria is aimed at enhancing cooperation, especially improving the "energy partnership" between the two countries, according to the Nigerian authorities. ■
