Buhari Tasks ECOWAS On Stranded Migrants In North Africa

West African leaders have been meeting in Abuja for the ECOWAS Summit, where they have been discussing the migrant crisis.

The annual event has brought together 15-member nations, with Morocco and Mauritania looking to become a part of the regional bloc.

West Africans form a sizeable number of migrants reported to be stranded in Libya, which has been implicated in slave auctions.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari urged his fellow leaders to reaffirm their efforts towards the return stranded migrants in the North African country.

“May I suggest that we look into the possibility of putting in place a well-run regional mechanism for the evacuation, resettlement  and empowerment of stranded ECOWAS citizens abroad. Meanwhile, we should step up dialogue with our European partners in our efforts to jointly address this challenge which affect us all,” Buhari said.

African leaders in early November pledged to return the stranded migrants to their various countries, as reports of slave auctions and human rights abuses in Libya chocked the world.

Also, the leaders of ECOWAS also agreed in principle to accept Morocco’s bid for membership.

Member nations of the bloc do not share border territory with Morocco, although the country has had strong bi-lateral ties with all the ECOWAS member states.

Consideration was also made for the re-admission of Mauritania, which withdrew from the regional body in 2000.