AFRICA

ECOWAS SUMMIT BEGINS IN ABUJA AMID SAHEL NATIONS’ GRACEFUL EXIT

ECOWAS SUMMIT BEGINS IN ABUJA AMID SAHEL NATIONS’ GRACEFUL EXIT
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Faith Nyasuguta

The 66th summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced in Abuja, Nigeria, under the leadership of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. This high-stakes meeting comes as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three nations plagued by military coups, prepare to exit the bloc officially on January 29. Their absence looms large over the discussions, underscoring the region’s growing instability.

A Region in Crisis

/Courtesy/

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have severed ties with ECOWAS, accusing the bloc of imposing unfair sanctions following their respective coups. Despite the official withdrawal date, ECOWAS leaders have agreed to a six-month grace period, extending the effective departure to July 29. 

This window is seen as a final opportunity to persuade the three Sahel nations to reconsider their decision. However, the countries have reiterated that their departure is “irreversible.”

The three nations have already formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a pivot away from ECOWAS. Despite this break, the trio has pledged to keep their territories visa-free for ECOWAS citizens, easing concerns about disruptions to trade and free movement for the region’s 400 million residents.

A Broader Agenda

/ECOWAS/

At the summit, ECOWAS leaders are grappling with a range of pressing issues, including escalating regional security threats and the persistent challenge of insurgencies led by al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) in the Sahel. The payment of the community levy by member states and the implementation of the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme, aimed at fostering the free movement of people and goods, are also on the agenda.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, tasked with mediating between ECOWAS and the Sahel trio, is expected to provide a critical update on the negotiations. Faye has expressed optimism about maintaining relations with the departing nations despite their closer ties with Russia and their distancing from France, the region’s former colonial power. 

His efforts reflect ECOWAS’s broader goal of fostering dialogue and mitigating the fallout from the Sahel’s political realignment.

ECOWAS at a Crossroads

Military juntas in West Africa /Sudan Times/

Founded in 1975 with a vision of economic and political integration, ECOWAS now faces one of the most significant challenges in its history. With 15 member states, including Ghana, Ivory Coast, and the Gambia, the bloc has long been a cornerstone of regional cooperation. However, the series of coups since 2020 has exposed its vulnerabilities and raised questions about its ability to uphold democratic norms and security in West Africa.

The departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger not only marks a turning point for the Sahel but also tests ECOWAS’s relevance in an increasingly fragmented region. As the summit unfolds, leaders hope to chart a path forward, balancing the bloc’s foundational principles with the urgent need to address the shifting political dynamics and growing security threats.

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Faith Nyasuguta

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