While continuing his West Africa tour, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio reaffirmed his desire for the Alliance of Sahel States to return to the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
Maada Bio, who assumed the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of West African States in June, expressed confidence that his cordial ties with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger could help make this possible.
The three military led nations officially announced their withdrawal from the 15 member bloc in January, after forming their own alliance last year.
Their division followed ECOWAS demand for the reinstatement of democratic governance in Niger after the 2023 coup.
This is a critical moment for ECOWAS, as the region struggles with mounting threats from terrorism, climate change, military takeovers, and poverty.
Maada Bio has emphasized the need to preserve and uphold regional unity in confronting these issues. He has promised to focus on strengthening democracy, enhancing security cooperation, boosting economic integration, and enhancing the institutional credibility during his leadership.
