ECOWAS meets in Ghana over exit of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is meeting in Accra, Ghana’s capital, to discuss the withdrawals of Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso from the bloc.

A statement issued Tuesday said the discussions will last two days — including Wednesday.

ECOWAS said key items on the agenda would include discussions on the modalities of the countries’ withdrawal and the potential implications for the bloc’s institutions operating within those states.

“The bloc will also address other related matters of regional importance,” it added.

The meeting coincides with ECOWAS golden jubilee celebrations in Accra.

Established on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, ECOWAS was created to promote economic integration and cooperation among West African countries.

Its founding members aimed to create a single, large trading bloc that would foster collective self-sufficiency, enhance development, and improve living standards across the region.

However, the bloc began to crack notably in 2020 when a series of military coups swept through member states undermining the its cohesion and democratic principles.

The critical turning point came with coups in Mali (2020 and 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger Republic (2023), which led to these countries being suspended and subjected to sanctions due to their military takeovers and deferral of democratic elections.

The situation escalated when, in July  2024, the military juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their decision to irrevocably turn their backs ECOWAS.

They accused ECOWAS of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions and failing to address their internal security crises.

This unprecedented move marked the first time in ECOWAS’s history that member states sought to leave the organisation.

After nearly a year of mediation efforts to prevent disintegration with little success, ECOWAS officially approved an exit timeline for these three coup-hit nations spanning January to July this year.

The countries have since formed a new regional bloc called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and have imposed a levy on ECOWAS member states, disrupting the free trade that the region enjoyed and escalating tensions.