By: Usman Fambuleh
The recent peace appeal issued by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the chairmanship of Julius Maada Bio has drawn sharp reaction from Sierra Leonean lawyer and former Bar leader Bastia Michael, who questioned the regional body’s consistency in promoting peace abroad while remaining silent on tensions affecting its own member states.
In a February 28, 2026 statement issued in Abuja, ECOWAS expressed deep concern over escalating military hostilities in the Gulf region, warning that the crisis could threaten global peace, disrupt energy markets, and negatively affect food security and trade, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Africa. The Commission urged all parties involved to exercise “maximum restraint,” comply with international law, protect civilian lives, and pursue peaceful dialogue to reduce tensions and restore stability.
However, in a pointed reaction, Michael repeated the very words used by ECOWAS: “Maximum restraint. Promote dialogue. Reduce tension. Restore stability. Peaceful resolution of disputes.”
She then added a remark widely interpreted as a direct criticism of the Commission’s silence on regional tensions: “Noble principles — their true strength is felt when applied at home.”
Her comments come at a time when Sierra Leone continues to face unresolved tensions over the disputed border town of Yenga with neighboring Guinea, an issue that has persisted for years without decisive regional intervention. Public concern has intensified following reports of the arrest of 16 Sierra Leonean military officers by Guinean authorities — a development that has raised serious questions among citizens about regional solidarity and diplomatic response.
Observers note that despite ECOWAS’s swift appeal for restraint and peaceful resolution in the Gulf crisis, the regional bloc has not issued any public statement addressing the Yenga border situation or the reported detention of Sierra Leonean soldiers. For critics like Michael, this contrast underscores what they describe as a gap between ECOWAS’s international posture and its engagement with challenges within its own region.
Political analysts point out that ECOWAS has historically positioned itself as a defender of peace, dialogue, and democratic order in West Africa, frequently intervening in regional crises to restore stability. However, Michael’s remarks suggest that the credibility of such appeals depends on the consistent application of those same principles within member states.
By echoing ECOWAS’s own language and contrasting it with ongoing tensions affecting Sierra Leone, Michael’s statement has sparked renewed debate about leadership, accountability, and the responsibility of regional institutions to act with equal urgency both internationally and within their own community.
As ECOWAS continues to advocate restraint and peaceful dispute resolution on the global stage, many observers argue that its moral authority will increasingly be judged by how firmly those same principles are applied at home.
