ABUJA, Nigeria — The West African countries of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which are currently under military rule, have officially announced their exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This declaration was made on Wednesday, marking the end of a year-long process aimed at preventing a significant split within the bloc. According to ECOWAS, this withdrawal has now taken effect.
Despite the departure, ECOWAS expressed a willingness to keep the lines of communication open and has urged member nations to continue granting the departing countries their membership rights. This includes allowing the free movement of citizens within the region using an ECOWAS passport.
Omar Alieu Touray, the president of ECOWAS, addressed the media in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, stating that the organization still aims to collaborate with these nations in addressing pressing regional issues, particularly the severe extremist violence that has plagued the area.
The withdrawal is seen as deepening the legitimacy crisis facing ECOWAS, which has struggled to meet public expectations regarding the enforcement of the law and governance. Ulf Laessing, who oversees the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, commented that the exit of these three impoverished member states paints ECOWAS as increasingly ineffective in the eyes of its citizens.
Established in 1975, ECOWAS was intended to enhance economic integration among its member countries. However, in recent years, it has faced challenges in reversing the trend of coups throughout the region, where citizens have expressed frustration over not benefiting from the abundance of natural resources.
In recent times, ECOWAS has become recognized as the main political authority in West Africa, frequently collaborating with member nations to tackle various domestic issues ranging from political concerns to economic and security threats. Nonetheless, the bloc has lost resonance among some West African populations, who perceive it as serving the interests of political leaders rather than the general populace, according to Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Program at the Wilson Center think tank.
Following their ascent to power, the military governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their intention to leave ECOWAS. They then formed a new security alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States, broke military ties with traditional Western allies such as the United States and France, and sought military assistance from Russia.
This marks an unprecedented event in the history of ECOWAS, which has existed for nearly fifty years. Analysts suggest that this departure poses a significant setback for the organization, potentially jeopardizing efforts to restore democratic governance and stabilize a region that is becoming increasingly fragile.
Furthermore, ECOWAS stipulated that the remaining member states must continue to treat goods and services from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in accordance with its regulations, maintaining support and cooperation for officials from those countries in the course of their duties.
