Africa: Exit of three Sahelian neighbours from ECOWAS paves way for rival group amidst ongoing military coups

In a decisive move that sent shocking waves across the African continent on Sunday, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a step towards the establishment of a rival organisation aimed at bolstering Pan-Africanism. 

These three landlocked nations, grappling with military coups for the past year, have been subjected to sanctions by both ECOWAS and suspension from the African Union (AU) due to their unconstitutional changes in leadership.

ECOWAS, comprising 15 West African countries, was established to promote regional integration through the free movement of people and trade. 

However, since the military coup in Mali in August 2020, the bloc has faced mounting pressure. Subsequent coups in the region have reached a total of six, with four countries currently under military rule and five other failed attempts.

The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, expressing discontent with sanctions they perceive as unjust, declared their departure from Ecowas, denouncing the organisation for straying from its original ideals. 

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for Niger’s government, cited ECOWAS’s failure to support their states in the “existential fight against terrorism and insecurity” as a key factor in their decision.

The East African reports that the joint statement released on live television in Niame emphasised the move as a “sovereign decision,” pointing out that, after 49 years, the three nations observed ECOWAS deviating from its founding principles. 

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been grappling not only with political instability but also with militia violence and widespread poverty.

Despite tensions, Niger had initially sought resolution through talks with ECOWAS. However, the failure of an ECOWAS delegation to arrive in Niame the day before the announcement heightened the rift. 

The decision to leave the bloc comes as these Sahelian nations have been working towards the creation of the “Alliance of Sahel States,” envisioned to restore stability and economic prosperity.

Notably, the strained relationship between Ecowas and its member states under military rule has been exacerbated by estranged ties with Western nations, particularly France, which withdrew its support from all three countries. 

Accusations have been made against Western nations for instigating instability, leading to tensions that have spilled over into neighbouring nations in the Gulf of Guinea.