By Burnett Munthali
In a dramatic shift that threatens to destabilize an already volatile region, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their “irrevocable and immediate” withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-member regional bloc that has long facilitated free movement and economic integration among its member states. The leaders of these countries, all under military rule and aligned with Russia, have declared their intention to form a new confederation.
This departure marks a significant geopolitical shift in West Africa, where the three countries span over half of ECOWAS's geographic area and are among the most populous within the bloc. Despite their size and population, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are not the region's largest economies. All three nations are landlocked and rely heavily on access to ports in neighboring coastal countries for their international trade.
The exit of these key members poses a serious threat to the cohesion of ECOWAS, a bloc that has been instrumental in regional stability and economic development. “Our region is facing the risk of disintegration,” warned Omar Alieu Touray, president of ECOWAS’s executive arm, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
In response, ECOWAS has appointed Senegal’s newly elected president to mediate the crisis and attempt to address the underlying issues driving the split. However, experts suggest that the breakup is now inevitable, and the ramifications for the people of the region could be severe.
The departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS further compounds the challenges facing West Africa, a region already grappling with violent insurgencies and political instability. The creation of a new confederation could lead to increased fragmentation and disruption of trade and movement within the region, potentially exacerbating existing humanitarian and economic issues.
