President Joseph Boakai of Liberia has stated that ECOWAS must keep its door open to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, despite the countries’ exit from the West African bloc. Speaking at a summit hosted in Abuja by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Boakai urged fellow leaders to continue “open lines of dialogue,” stressing that “productive sub-regional interactions” and “national cohesion” must remain the foundation of ECOWAS unity.
According to Boakai, “Even after 50 years of extensive cooperation, the challenges we face are still present and complex — but they are not insurmountable.” He called for diplomatic patience and regional solidarity, urging leaders not to let short-term politics derail decades of progress.
Boakai Defends Open ECOWAS Policy
Boakai reaffirmed that ECOWAS must keep its door open to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in the face of ongoing political instability. He stated, “We are working closely with ECOWAS to harmonise policies, reduce trade barriers, and enhance competitiveness.” He also emphasized Liberia’s ambition to be a stable and transparent investment destination.
He threw his support behind the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a “transformative tool” for economic integration across the region. Boakai’s message was clear: inclusion, not isolation, is the only path to real progress.
Tinubu Demands Value from West Africa’s Resources
In a sharp warning, ECOWAS Chairman Bola Tinubu called on the bloc to abandon what he called the “pit-to-port” model. He urged leaders to stop exporting raw minerals without local processing and to start creating jobs and economic value within West Africa. “To be resource-rich is not enough, we must become value chain smart,” Tinubu said.
He criticised the region’s low intraregional trade still under 10% and blamed poor coordination for stalling progress. Tinubu warned, “The global economy will not wait for West Africa to get its hands together nor should we.” He also called for urgent investment in the region’s youth, saying failure to act could turn a demographic asset into a long-term liability.
Boakai Says ECOWAS Door Still Open to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso
President Boakai’s insistence that ECOWAS must keep its door open to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso stands out amid growing tensions in the region. His message, delivered at a high-stakes summit, challenges leaders to balance discipline with diplomacy. While Tinubu’s call for economic transformation rings loud, Boakai’s plea for inclusion offers a softer, yet necessary counterbalance. The future of regional stability may depend on whether ECOWAS listens to both voices.
