Abuja: Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has raised concerns over the United States' proposed visa restrictions on ECOWAS countries, describing them as 'non-tariff barriers' that could negatively impact trade relations between the U.S. and West Africa. Tuggar, who chairs the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC), expressed these views during the 54th Ordinary Session of the MSC held at the Ministerial Level in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has announced a list of 36 countries, many of which are ECOWAS members, that will be under U.S. visa scrutiny. The new visa proposal mandates that the affected countries comply with new requirements within a 60-day window or face potential travel bans. Tuggar criticized the policy, emphasizing that it could hinder trade, diplomacy, and regional prosperity between the U.S. and West Africa.
Tuggar highlighted that ECOWAS is a region rich with opportunities and resources, and such restrictions would create 'non-tariff barriers' to potential deals and partnerships with the U.S. He noted the importance of maintaining open channels for government officials, technocrats, business executives, and entrepreneurs to travel freely to foster deals and partnerships. Tuggar pointed out that West African countries have long been part of the international trading system and are keen on establishing partnerships based on mutual needs.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, shared his thoughts during the session, expressing satisfaction that the MSC was convening at a pivotal moment as ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary. He highlighted the council's significant contributions to the region's security and stability over the past 25 years. Touray outlined the session's objective to update participants on various regional political and security developments, including the transition process in Guinea and negotiations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Touray also provided updates on maritime security, terrorism, and transnational organized crime in the region. He mentioned the progress made in strengthening ECOWAS's regional peace and security architecture and outlined plans to present memoranda on the Standby Force Logistics Concept, the ECOWAS Logistics Depot Policies, and the West African Police Information System Regional Platform.
Touray further noted the significant progress ECOWAS has made in direct talks with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger after their recent withdrawal from the bloc. He emphasized ECOWAS's efforts to improve communication with these countries to mitigate misinformation and enhance its global image, particularly in the context of recent challenges posed by fake news.