Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso Military Leaders Rule Out Returning to ECOWAS Bloc

Photo : AP

NIAMEY, Niger — Military junta leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced on Saturday their decision to create an independent bloc, rather than rejoining the West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS. This move could further complicate efforts to reverse coups and address spreading violence in the region.

The leaders made this announcement during their first summit in Niamey, the capital of Niger, since their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January. They accused ECOWAS of failing its mandate and declared their intent to strengthen their own union, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established last year amid deteriorating relations with neighboring countries.

Niger’s military leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, criticized ECOWAS, stating that the nearly 50-year-old organization had become “a threat to our states.” He said, “We are going to create an AES of the peoples, instead of an ECOWAS whose directives and instructions are dictated to it by powers that are foreign to Africa.”

The summit in Niamey took place a day before an ECOWAS summit in Nigeria attended by other regional heads of state. Analysts believe these concurrent meetings highlight the deep divisions within ECOWAS, which had been the principal political authority for its 15 member states until the unprecedented withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel    

Karim Manuel, an analyst for the Middle East and Africa with the Economist Intelligence Unit, noted that despite ECOWAS’s efforts to maintain unity, the alliance between the three military junta-led countries is likely to remain outside the regional bloc as tensions persist. “Attempts at mediation will likely continue nonetheless, notably led by Senegal’s new administration, but it will not be fruitful anytime soon,” said Manuel.

The Alliance of Sahel States, formed last September, has been promoted by the three countries as a means to establish new partnerships with nations like Russia and assert their independence from their former colonial ruler, France, which they accuse of interfering through ECOWAS.

During the Niamey meeting, Burkina Faso’s leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, reiterated these concerns, accusing foreign countries of exploiting Africa. “Westerners consider that we belong to them and our wealth also belongs to them. They think that they are the ones who must continue to tell us what is good for our states. This era is gone forever; our resources will remain for us and our populations,” Traoré said.

Mali’s leader, Col. Assimi Goïta, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The attack on one of us will be an attack on all the other members.” With Goïta elected as the new alliance’s leader, the three leaders signed a pact committing their countries to create a regional parliament and a bank, similar to those operated by ECOWAS. They also pledged to pool their military resources to combat insecurity in their countries.

At a meeting of regional ministers on Thursday, Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, remarked that the bloc had not received “the right signals” about any potential return of the three states, despite ECOWAS lifting coup-related sanctions which the three nations had cited as a reason for their departure from the bloc.

Observers note that dissatisfaction with ECOWAS extends beyond these three countries. The bloc has lost support from West African citizens, many of whom have celebrated recent coups due to frustrations over not benefitting from their countries’ rich natural resources. Oge Onubogu, director of the Africa Program at the Washington-based Wilson Center think tank, stated that ECOWAS is largely perceived as representing the interests of its leaders rather than those of the general populace.

This decision by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to form an independent bloc marks a significant shift in the political landscape of West Africa, highlighting the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and the complex dynamics of regional alliances.