West African leaders convened in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday for a high-stakes ECOWAS summit, with the bloc grappling with security challenges and the departure of three military-led member states—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Ahead of the meeting, the three nations reaffirmed their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States, calling their exit “irreversible.”
They criticized the bloc for being “subservient” to former colonial power France.
The withdrawal of these nations, effective January 2025 per ECOWAS regulations, could disrupt free trade, regional movement, and security cooperation at a time when jihadist insurgencies are gaining ground across the Sahel.
The breakaway states have formed a new confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), pivoting towards Russia and distancing themselves from France.
Ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger held a separate meeting in Niamey on Friday, reiterating their commitment to the withdrawal process, which they said prioritizes the best interests of their citizens.
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, an ECOWAS-appointed mediator, expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations with the three nations, stating last week that progress had been made.
“There’s no reason for these states not to maintain relations with ECOWAS, especially given the regional security situation,” Faye said.
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé has also been actively mediating with the Sahel states.
The relationship between ECOWAS and the breakaway states has been fraught, particularly after the bloc imposed heavy sanctions on Niger and threatened military intervention following a July 2023 coup—the region’s sixth in three years.
In a move to ease tensions, ECOWAS lifted some sanctions in March 2024 to facilitate dialogue, especially concerning Niger’s detained former President Mohamed Bazoum.
Nigeria’s military leadership has also sought to strengthen security cooperation with Niger, focusing on communication and joint border task force operations.
The departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger underscores a broader trend of military takeovers in the region.
ECOWAS member Guinea, led by military chief-turned-president General Mamady Doumbouya since a 2021 coup, has also faced scrutiny.
Under pressure from ECOWAS, Guinea’s leaders had committed to holding elections by the end of 2024 but recently admitted they would not meet that deadline.
The ECOWAS summit aimed to address these complex issues, with leaders focusing on maintaining stability and finding pathways to reconcile with the breakaway states.
However, the absence of representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger at the Abuja meeting highlights the deep divisions within the bloc.
