Recall that the three countries under military rule have officially left Ecowas, after more than a year of diplomatic tensions.
The split was sparked after the three departing countries refused Ecowas demands to restore diplomatic rule.
Their withdrawal was considered a huge blow to Ecowas, which at 50 years old is considered Africa’s most important regional group.
However, briefing journalists ahead of the Ecowas @ 50 commemorative anniversary celebrations to be held in Nigeria, the Minister said the return of these countries is not ruled out.
Amb. Tuggar said Ecowas has done its best in giving the three countries the opportunity to remain in the Community.
When pressed on why the regional bloc is keen on moving its facilities out of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, he said: “That is what the countries signed up for. If you are a member, then you have the right to host. If you leave, then unfortunately they have to relocate to other places.
“West Africa health organizations for instance have to leave Burkina Faso, and there’s even hot competition among the member states to host. That’s unfortunately the rules and regulations they all signed up to.
“But it doesn’t mean that we are not hopeful that those countries will come back to the ECOWAS fold. I was in Niger not quite long ago, and they made it clear to us that they have not ruled out a return in the future”.
While emphasizing that Ecowas arms are open to receive the countries back to its fold, the Minister lamented that the present governments in those countries have decided against it.
“Under different circumstances, we hope that they will return. It’s about the community, it’s about the people, there’s nothing that stops those countries from returning. It’s not something that has been ruled out”, he added.
