Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla has justified the decision of his country to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc, saying the regional body has failed to assist its member states.
The Burkinabe PM stated this on Thursday in Ouagadougou, the state capital.
Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla said, “On January 28th, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger took the historic decision to withdraw from the Economic Communitiy of West African States (ECOWAS), it is a carefully considered decision which came after a thorough analysis of the institution and the potential consequences of a withdrawal”.
According to him, authorities believe ECOWAS doesn’t meet the aspirations of the Sahelian peoples anymore rendering the AES alliance necessary.
Premier ministre Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla, however, condemns ECOWAS sanctions against his country, Mali and Niger and also accused the bloc of failure to assist its member states.
“Instead of an ECOWAS of the people, the organization has become a technocratic tool which that ultimately deviated from the legitimate aspirations of the West African peoples.”
“For proof, we have noted ECOWAS’s indifference when our valiant peoples were massacred, or as our fellow citizens endure humanitarian crisis, or in the face of the numerous destabilisation attempts our states have encountered,” he said.
Burkina Faso says it has notified the 15-nation bloc of its decision.
AES countries have called on their populations to mobilise in support of the move in the coming days.
Since Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced they would quit ECOWAS, the move has prompted various reactions.
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