The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) warned in its summit on Sunday that the region faces “disintegration” after the military rulers in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their departure from ECOWAS and the establishment of a new rival union. The three countries recently declared the formation of a new confederate union, marking their first meeting prior to the ECOWAS summit as another test for the regional bloc they had left earlier this year.
This challenge comes as ECOWAS also faces expanding terrorist violence, financial difficulties, and struggles in mobilizing a regional force. The post-summit scenario in Abuja remained unclear as to how the bloc would react to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s treaty to establish the “Sahel Union” in Niamey on Saturday.
However, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Aliou Touray stated that by separating, the three countries risk facing “political isolation” and losing investments worth millions of dollars. Touray also mentioned that the split could exacerbate security instability and hinder the operations of the long-proposed regional force, warning that “our region faces the risk of disintegration.”
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, governed by military regimes that came to power through coups between 2020 and 2023, are also distancing themselves from France, their former colonial power, and have expelled French forces from their territories. The head of Niger’s military council, General Abdul Rahman Tiani, has called for the creation of a “sovereign community of peoples” free from the dominance of foreign powers.
Tiani stated at the Sahel group meeting in Niamey on Saturday that the people of the three countries have “finally turned their backs on the Economic Community of West African States,” rejecting ECOWAS’s calls for them to return. The decision of the three countries to withdraw was partly driven by accusations of Paris manipulating ECOWAS and not providing sufficient support against extremists.
Many West African leaders have called for a resumption of dialogue, and Sunday’s summit was the first for Senegal’s new president, Basirou Dioumaye Fay, who stated in May that reconciliation is possible.
Niger’s relationship with ECOWAS deteriorated following the coup in July 2023, which brought General Tiani to power, leading to the imposition of sanctions and threats of military intervention to restore the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The sanctions were lifted in February, but relations remain turbulent.
ECOWAS is also discussing how to fund a “regional force to combat terrorism and restore constitutional order,” proposing an initial force of 1,500 soldiers. One suggestion was to mobilize a brigade of 5,000 soldiers at an annual cost of approximately $2.6 billion.
While ECOWAS has intervened militarily in the past, its threat to do so following the coup in Niger has waned. Amid regional challenges, Touray warned of a “dismal financial situation.”
Despite reports of disputes over his reappointment, ECOWAS affirmed that Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would remain its head.
