Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has advocated for the strengthening of regional peace among ECOWAS countries.
He urged the regional body to reintegrate Mali, the Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso into its fold, asserting that true unity in the region cannot be achieved without the presence of these nations.
Speaking at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Forum 2026 held in Abuja, which focused on Nigeria’s role in peacekeeping missions over the past five decades, he emphasised that Nigeria has been instrumental in promoting peaceful coexistence in the region.
“For 51 years, Nigeria has been the unshakable anchor of ECOWAS. From ECOMOG in Liberia and Sierra Leone to stabilising The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria has sacrificed and invested in blood, treasure, and diplomacy to defend democracy.
According to the former military chief, “Our stability is inseparable from the security of our neighbours. The African Union has consistently recognised this interdependence, working alongside ECOWAS to build a peaceful and integrated West Africa.
Buratai, who was also the former Ambassador of Nigeria to Benin Republic, noted that, “Nigeria’s 51 years in ECOWAS prove that democracy and collective security are two sides of the same coin.
“ECOWAS should continue to engage the African Union to bring back the Association of Sahel States (AES). The unity of ECOWAS can not be complete without Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.
“Without unity, progress in the region may be a mirage, he stressed.
