Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has rejected ECOWAS call for Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to return to the West African bloc.
The three countries’ decision to leave the bloc was fuelled in part by their accusation that France was manipulating ECOWAS and not providing enough support for anti-jihadist efforts.
According to Diop, Mali is ready to cooperate with ECOWAS but it’s against the possible introduction of visas for nationals of the three countries travelling within the bloc.
“Our Heads of State were very clear in Niamey when they said the withdrawal of the three countries from ECOWAS is irrevocable and was done without delay, and from now on we must stop looking in the rear-view mirror,” Diop said.
Mali remains “open to working with our neighbours and other organisations with which we share this space,” he added.
“We will have to maintain discussions with others in order to move forward, but I believe that the path we have embarked upon is not reversible.”
