Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso once again have refused to take part in the 43rd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff held in Abuja. These Sahelian nations have consistently refrained from participating in ECOWAS meetings since announcing their departure from the bloc in January 2024. This exit has weakened ECOWAS, disrupting its regional security cooperation and efforts to tackle insurgency and organized crime in West Africa.
During the meeting, ECOWAS defense chiefs discussed strategies to fill the security gaps created by the three countries’ departure. ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, emphasized the need for a new security approach, noting that the withdrawal of these nations had made earlier counter-terrorism pledges obsolete. The chiefs also addressed regional security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, and transnational crime.
In his closing remarks, General Christopher Musa, Chairman of the Committee, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to collective action to defend regional security. Key topics included reviewing pledges for the ECOWAS Standby Force and the Counter-Terrorist Brigade.
Meanwhile, the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) raised concerns about ongoing challenges to democracy in the region. At its annual meeting in Accra, civil society groups discussed the growing threats to democratic stability, particularly in countries like Togo, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, The Gambia, and Côte d’Ivoire. These nations are facing political crises, including constitutional changes and authoritarian tendencies, which undermine democratic principles.
WADEMOS called for stronger commitments to democracy, emphasizing the need for peaceful transitions of power and accountability. They also noted the declining support for democracy and growing restrictions on civil society in the Sahel and West Africa.
