In response to the ongoing political crisis in Senegal and recent exits by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), foreign ministers from West African nations are holding an emergency session in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday.
The extraordinary gathering by ECOWAS follows President Macky Sall’s unexpected decision to postpone elections in Senegal, adding to the challenges faced by the regional bloc. The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS further intensifies the discussions on political and security matters within the region.
The ECOWAS Mediation & Security Council stated that the ministers would convene to “discuss current security and political issues in the region.” It remains uncertain whether representatives from the four countries under discussion are actively participating in the emergency talks.
ECOWAS has called on Senegal, historically one of its more stable member states, to adhere to its original election timetable. However, doubts have arisen regarding the effectiveness of ECOWAS in influencing increasingly defiant member states.
The current turmoil also casts doubt on the broader role of the almost 50-year-old regional bloc, especially after its previous warning of military intervention in Niger failed to materialize, leaving the toppled president’s restoration in uncertainty.
Established in May 1975 in Lagos, ECOWAS had previously experienced a member withdrawal only in 2000 when Mauritania chose to exit. The unfolding challenges in Senegal present a “new crisis ECOWAS doesn’t need,” according to Beninese political consultant Djidenou Steve Kpoton, highlighting the apparent limitations of the regional organization in addressing the situation.
