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By Myke Agunwa
The unexpected exit of Sahel countries including Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso will be given a priority during the meeting of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) slated for Accra, Ghana on Wednesday.
Recall that the three countries abandoned ECOWAS after the bloc placed various sanctions on them following a military take over. As a result, they formed a new bloc known as Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and have imposed a levy on ECOWAS member states, thus disrupting free trade in the region.
The bloc, however, said that it has decided to “keep ECOWAS’ doors open,” and requested member nations to continue to accord the trio their membership privileges, including free movement within the region with an ECOWAS passport.
A statement issued on Tuesday on the Commission website stated that the modalities of the countries’ withdrawal and the potential implications for the bloc’s institutions operating within those states has been of great concern to the region.
“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, Nigeria, 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 make notable impact 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.