REGIONAL UNITY AT RISK? BURATAI SOUNDS WARNING OVER FRACTURES IN WEST AFRICA

REGIONAL UNITY AT RISK? BURATAI SOUNDS WARNING OVER FRACTURES IN WEST AFRICA



Beneath the celebration of Voice of Nigeria at 51, a deeper concern echoed through the halls of its 2026 forum — the future of West African unity.




Delivering a goodwill message, former Army Chief, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, issued a strong appeal for renewed regional cooperation, warning that cracks within ECOWAS could threaten decades of progress.



For over half a century, Nigeria has stood at the centre of regional stability — from leading ECOMOG peace missions in war-torn Liberia and Sierra Leone to diplomatic interventions across West Africa. But today, Buratai suggests, that legacy faces a critical test.



At the heart of his concern is the growing divide between ECOWAS and Sahel nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now aligned under a separate bloc.



Without their return, Buratai warned, the vision of a united and secure West Africa may remain out of reach.



“Progress in the region may be a mirage without unity,” he cautioned.



He urged stronger alignment between ECOWAS and the African Union, stressing that Africa’s peace architecture must function as a single, coordinated force.



Amid the warnings, Buratai also paid tribute to Voice of Nigeria, praising its evolution into a pan-African voice and acknowledging veteran journalists who shaped its legacy.


Yet, beyond the commendations, his message was clear: West Africa stands at a crossroads — and the choices made now will define the region’s future stability.