ECOWAS is working to bring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger back into the regional bloc.
On Sunday, West African leaders from ECOWAS gathered for a summit, with the three countries, led by military governments, on the verge of leaving the organization.
Prior to the meeting, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger reaffirmed their decision from a year ago to exit ECOWAS, calling it “irreversible” and condemning the bloc for being too aligned with former colonial power France.
The potential exit of these three Sahel states could have significant consequences for regional free trade, movement, and security cooperation, especially as insurgencies continue to exacerbate insecurity in the region.
These countries have also established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after severing ties with France and shifting their focus towards Russia.
While the three countries did not announce plans to attend the summit in Abuja, they held a separate ministerial-level meeting in Niamey, Niger, on Friday.
Senegal’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was appointed by ECOWAS as a mediator with the breakaway nations, will be at the summit. Faye stated last week that progress was being made in discussions and emphasized there was no reason for the states to sever relations, particularly given the ongoing security challenges.
Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbé, has also been involved in mediating with the Sahel nations.
“Although the potential departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS is disappointing, we commend the ongoing mediation efforts,” said ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray at the summit’s opening.
According to ECOWAS regulations, the departure of the three nations will take effect next month, one year after their initial announcement, in January 2024
