Highlights: Mali: for former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, “Pan-Africanism means remaining in ECOWAS”. It has been almost a week since Mali, Niger and Burkina announced, on Sunday January 28, their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) “I ask them not to do it and above all,” he said, ‘to talk to each other and listen before making decisions that can be considered strategic’

It has been almost a week since Mali, Niger and Burkina announced, on Sunday January 28, their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). A decision…

Mali: for former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, “Pan-Africanism means remaining in ECOWAS”

It has been almost a week since Mali, Niger and Burkina announced, on Sunday January 28, their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). A resounding decision whose economic and political consequences have since given rise to much concern.

Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara at Parliament in Bamako, April 29, 2014. (Illustrative image) AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE

By: RFI Follow

Some even want to hope that this decision by

Mali

, Niger and Burkina Faso to leave ECOWAS is not irreversible. This is the case of the former Malian Prime Minister, Moussa Mara, who is launching, this Saturday, February 3, an appeal to the Malian transitional authorities. Moussa Mara.

“I ask them not to do it and above all

,” he said,

“to talk to each other and listen before making decisions that can be considered strategic. Taking Mali out of ECOWAS is a strategic decision to say the least. So I think that in form, he missed the consultation. And now, we are faced with a situation which also requires consultation: the ECOWAS authorities have shown their willingness to talk to each other, the African Union authorities have shown their willingness to support Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. . I can only hope that they seize these opportunities. »

Transform from within

Thus, Moussa Mara therefore challenges the authorities with a speech aligned with the claimed priorities of the Transition. For the former Prime Minister, who positions himself neither as an ally nor as an opponent of the transition regime but as a sort of vigilant supporter, true pan-Africanism is not to reject ECOWAS but to transform it from within. , in order to move towards the unity of the continent.

“The march of history is to move in the direction of the whole. Even those who speak of pan-Africanism and African unity: we have indicated in our Constitution, consistently since 1960, that Mali is ready to abandon all or part of its sovereignty to achieve African unity. There are shortcomings at ECOWAS. ECOWAS itself recognizes this. Let's work within to correct these inadequacies and stay together. Let's move in the direction of African unity! Let us abandon disunity and disintegration! »

An appeal which could nourish the reflection of the Malians and their Nigerien and Burkinabè allies of the AES, but which has very little chance of being heard by the regimes in place.

Read alsoCédéao: the departure of Mali, Niger and Burkina comes after months of tension

Mali: for former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, “Pan-Africanism means remaining in ECOWAS”

Mali: for former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, “Pan-Africanism means remaining in ECOWAS”

Transform from within

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest