ECOWAS: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Call It Quits

By Prince Kurupati

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, West Africa has experienced democracy regression. This is largely necessitated by the several coups and attempted coups that have happened in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau. The coups have reversed the democratic gains and derailed the democratic path that West Africa was on. Compounding matters even more, the region now faces a possible disintegration following the recent decision taken by three junta-led countries namely Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to pull out of the regional grouping, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced that they are pulling out of ECOWAS in a joint statement that was simultaneously aired on the national televisions of all three states on Sunday 28 January 2024. ECOWAS had taken a big brother role in the governance affairs of all three nations as it sought to expedite a quick return to civilian rule.

Immediately after the news came out, ECOWAS responded saying that it hadn’t received formal communication with regards to the withdrawal of the three nations. It went on to state that “Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse”.

The decision by the three junta-led countries has been described by security experts as a move that could weaken ECOWAS’ influence and authority in the region. ECOWAS was established with only a solitary goal which is, “To promote cooperation and integration… in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability”. The withdrawal of the three countries therefore poses a major threat to this goal.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, the Niger junta spokesman said the decision to quit ECOWAS was influenced by the regional grouping’s reluctance to help countries that are facing security threats posed by terrorists as well as inhumane “coup-related” sanctions. Instead of helping their countries fight security threats that were threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions, Colonel Adbramane said they saw it fit to “take their destiny into their own hands” and for that, they were slapped with “illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible” sanctions. He went on to state that ECOWAS has also strayed from the ideals on which it was born albeit not specifying exactly what these ideals are.

“After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organisation has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism… The organisation notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity, “Colonel Abdramane said.

ECOWAS rules state that any member state which wants to withdraw must give a one-year written notice. During that year, the member state will have to abide by all of ECOWAS’ provisions. It’s not clear at the moment if any of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have done so. As all three are landlocked countries, it's also not clear the impact that the withdrawal will have on the citizens of the three countries and others from the region.

Of the three countries, only Niger still has access to the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA) regional financial market and the regional central bank. The other two in the aftermath of their coups were suspended. The members of the eight-nation UEMOA use the West Africa CFA franc which is pegged to the Euro.

In November last year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger created The Alliance of Sahel States. This grouping was perceived at the time as an attempt to legitimise the junta governments but some analysts now say it may have been the first step in the process of withdrawing from ECOWAS. Withdrawing from ECOWAS does provide the three junta governments with an opportunity to evade the sanctions imposed on them as well as take charge of when they want to relinquish power hence placing it back in the hands of civilians. Ryan Cummings who is the director of Africa-focused security consulting company Sigal Risk said, “If they are no longer part of the ECOWAS bloc, they don’t have to abide by previous transitional timelines promulgated as a means of easing sanctions against them”.

Oge Obubogu, the director of the Africa Program at the U.S.-based Wilson Centre think tank said in the recent past, ECOWAS has strayed from its mission to serve the people and as such, it may not find much support from the West African citizens for any plan it may choose to implement. “When you see citizens pushing back and seeing ECOWAS as the leaders’ club or leaders who support each other at the detriment of citizens, it doesn’t work well”.

Commenting on the development, Nigerian security analyst Jaye Gaskia said, “The withdrawal of members of ECOWAS would have implications on ECOWAS itself in terms of its mandate and purpose for integration to ensure joint security and economic integration… I think this is a lesson – that ECOWAS needs to have protocols and mechanisms in place to begin to respond to that situation of insecurity and instability before it leads to a point where governments are actually overthrown. I ask this question – at what point is the constitution of a country actually subverted? Is it at the point where leaders become irresponsible or is it when (the) military responds to it”?