Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s new ‘Sahel States’ confederation sparks ECOWAS disintegration fears
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has warned of regional disintegration and heightened insecurity as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formalise their exit by signing the Alliance of Sahel States treaty.
The signing of the treaty on Saturday marked a significant step by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to abandon their membership in ECOWAS, a 15-member regional bloc that has been pushing for their return to democratic governance.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray emphasised that the potential exit of the three countries from the bloc threatens key benefits like the free movement of people and a vast common market of 400 million consumers, established over nearly five decades.
Touray warned that economic projects worth over $500 million in the three countries could face suspension or termination, speaking at an ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
He added that the three countries’ withdrawal will be a major blow to security cooperation, especially in terms of intelligence sharing and participation in the fight against terrorism.
Following the ECOWAS summit in Abuja, the bloc’s next steps remain uncertain, but Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Senegal’s new leader, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to act as a special envoy to engage with the breakaway countries, though the specifics of this role were not disclosed.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s exit from ECOWAS was driven by their belief that France was exerting undue influence over the bloc and not providing sufficient support for their fight against extremist insurgencies.
