‘Return to ECOWAS’ – Shehu Sani urges Niger, other Sahel states

Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani has called on the military governments of Niger and other Sahel countries to rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Sani made this appeal on Saturday, August 29, 2026, following a series of security incidents in the region. He highlighted the recent attacks in Niamey, the Niger Republic's capital, as evidence of the vulnerability of the country's military-led regime and the escalating security concerns in the Sahel.

"Today's attacks on Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic once again reflects the vulnerability and fragility of the ruling military regime and the dangerous security trend in the subregion," Sani stated. The former senator also expressed his concern over the frequent use of military coups to establish governments, citing Nigeria's own history of such incidents.

"No government installed by military coup stays longer without a counter coup. We have been through that phase in our history," he remarked. Sani urged the nations of Niger and the Sahel that have left ECOWAS to reconsider their decision and return to the regional organization.