Africa-Press – Gambia. Lawmakers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament gathered in The Gambia this week for a high-level session addressing the far-reaching consequences of recent withdrawals by three member states: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Presiding over the opening ceremony was Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Speaker of The Gambia’s National Assembly, who welcomed delegates to a delocalized joint committee meeting of the regional bloc’s Parliament. The session, hosted in Banjul, convened members of the committees on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism; Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment and Persons with Disabilities; Legal Affairs and Human Rights; and Trade, Customs and Free Movement.
The meeting, themed “Considering the Political, Socio-Economic and Humanitarian Impact of the Withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS,” comes at a moment of uncertainty for West Africa’s regional integration project.
In his opening address, Speaker Jatta underscored the urgency of the moment, characterizing the theme as a call for critical reflection on the foundational values of the ECOWAS bloc.
“The theme under which this meeting is convened is not merely a topic for discussion,”he said. “It calls for a deeper introspection of the founding principles of ECOWAS and to what extent these principles are serving the wishes and aspirations of our Citizens. This is fundamental because the fragmentation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is no longer a theoretical concern but a stark reality.”
The withdrawal of the three Sahelian nations—prompted by mounting tensions between their transitional governments and ECOWAS leadership—has raised fears of deeper political and economic fractures in a region already grappling with instability, insecurity, and humanitarian challenges.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
