Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lift the sanctions imposed on Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

They also urged the authorities in the three countries to rescind their decisions to withdraw from the bloc.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday in Abuja, the organizations, which included Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), stressed the need for state and non-state actors in the sub-region to intensify engagements towards ensuring a more united ECOWAS.

Recall that on Sunday, military regimes in the three countries announced their immediate withdrawal from the sub-regional body.

Leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the organisation “without delay.”

Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

All three were suspended from the body, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, stressed it was imperative for the affected countries and the rest member-states to have a deep reflection over the collective milestones of achieving regional integration.

These, according to him, include peace missions to member states; free mobility of people, goods and services; trade enhancement through removal of customs duties and tariffs on commodities; as well as collective infrastructural development efforts such as the West African power pool, leading to the construction of Diama and Manatali dams in Senegal and Mali respectively.

He regretted that at a time when the region is advancing discussions of a single market to boost trade and development, it is disheartening to see leaders shun the channel of diplomacy and dialogue and instead attempt to disintegrate the community.

The CSOs appealed to the military authorities in the affected countries to urgently roll out workable transition plans that clearly reactivate return to civil rule and quick restoration of democratic order, adding that these plans should consist of a timetable of political activities leading up to the conduct of elections and transmission of power, within the shortest time possible.