In Abuja, Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged Senegalese President Basirou Diomaye Faye to mediate talks with three member states led by military juntas. These nations had left the bloc in January, posing a threat to regional stability. At the summit in Abuja, Faye was appointed as an envoy to engage with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which had formed their own union after experiencing coups and strained relations with neighboring countries.
The terms of the proposed dialogue were not immediately specified. President Faye, the continent’s youngest leader following his election win in March, was seen as a suitable facilitator for the role, as stated by Omar Alieu Touray, the ECOWAS Commission President.
The three countries in question had previously declared that they had definitively left ECOWAS during their own summit the day before, marking a historic occurrence in the bloc’s nearly 50-year existence. Amid ongoing regional tensions, analysts expressed skepticism about the prompt success of Faye’s mission during this unprecedented crisis, according to Karim Manuel of the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Touray highlighted the critical state of affairs within the region, noting risks of potential disintegration. The departure of the three countries could impact economic projects and free movement of people within the ECOWAS community. It might also disrupt collaborative efforts to address shared security challenges, including border issues and growing security threats.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who was requested to extend his tenure as the bloc’s chairman, emphasized the need for strengthened partnerships amidst the significant challenges faced in West Africa. Tinubu encouraged collective efforts to foster the prosperity of the entire region.
