Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing a potential fracture as three member nations – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – forge a separate alliance. This move by the junta-led governments has sparked fears of regional disintegration and heightened insecurity.
The signing of the Alliance of Sahel States treaty on Saturday marks a clear departure from ECOWAS, a 15-nation bloc established nearly 50 years ago. ECOWAS has been pressuring the three countries to return to democratic rule following recent coups.
ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray warned of dire consequences if the nations leave. He highlighted the benefits of membership, including a common market of 400 million people and free movement of citizens. “Disintegration would disrupt these freedoms and worsen regional security,” Touray stated at an ECOWAS summit in Abuja.
The potential loss of these members would also jeopardize funding for crucial economic projects worth over $500 million in the departing states. Additionally, Touray stressed the blow to security cooperation, particularly intelligence sharing and joint counter-terrorism efforts.
The summit in Abuja aimed to address the implications of the Sahel alliance. These three countries, led by military juntas installed via coups between 2020 and 2023, have also severed ties with regional allies and Western powers.
Further discussions at the summit will focus on establishing a regional standby force to combat terrorism and the implementation of a single regional currency. The future of West Africa hangs in the balance as ECOWAS grapples with this potential breakup.
