BREAKING NEWS: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger pull out of ECOWAS

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger yesterday announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, saying it had become a threat to member states.

The ECOWAS Commission, however, said the community is ready for a “negotiated solution” with the three countries
But the Presidency in its immediate reaction yesterday, said the three countries were technically not members of ECOWAS, since they were on suspension.

Leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.

Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

All three, founding members of the bloc in 1975, were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions as the bloc tried to push for early return of civilian governments with elections.

The sanctions were an “irrational and unacceptable posture” at a time when the three “have decided to take their destiny in hand”, a reference to the coups that removed civilian administrations.

The three nations have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.

The leaders’ joint statement added that 15-member ECOWAS, “under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, had become a threat to member states and peoples.

They accused the grouping of failing to help them tackle jihadists, who swept into Mali from 2012 and then on to Burkina Faso and Niger.

Under pressure from the military regimes, France has removed ambassadors and troops and watched Russia fill the void militarily and politically.

The French army’s withdrawal from the Sahel, the region along the Sahara desert across Africa, has heightened concerns over conflicts spreading southward to Gulf of Guinea states — Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.

‘Bad faith’

The prime minister appointed by Niger’s regime had accused ECOWAS of “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.

Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS, which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger’s military leaders, wrestling with high food prices and a scarcity of medicines, have said they want up to three years for a transition back to civilian rule. In Mali, the ruling officers under Colonel Assimi Goita had pledged to hold elections in February this year, but that has now been pushed back to an unknown date.

Burkina Faso, which has not been put under sanctions although Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power in September 2022, has set elections for this summer, but says the fight against insurgents remains top priority.

Reacting to the development yesterday, the ECOWAS Commission said in a statement: “The attention of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on the national television of Mali and Niger announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.

“The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three member states about their intention to withdraw rom the community. However, the ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order.

“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 ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncement as the situation evolves.”

Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger suspended from ECOWAS — Presidency

In its reaction yesterday, the Presidency said the three contries were technically not members of ECOWAS, having been suspended by the body.

It also explained that the suspension order, which was slammed on the countries before President Bola Tinubu took over the leadership of the regional bloc, was a result of the coup d’etat in the countries that illegally removed democratically elected government.

A Presidency source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, however, said the ECOWAS Secretariat and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were in a better position to give clarity to the development.

The Presidency source said: “Mali and Burkina Faso were suspended before Mr. President became chairman of ECOWAS. Niger was the last one and you know the reason they were suspended.

“They were removing the elected legally/legitimate government via coup d’etat. So that is why they were suspended. So technically, I don’t know why people are worried about this.

“Technically, those countries are no longer members of ECOWAS as at today because their memberships have been suspended. So, when they said they are leaving, they are not members because they are serving suspension.
‘’So, it is just superfluous; they had left. There will be reaction from the ECOWAS Secretariat. ECOWAS will react appropriately because I remember on Thursday, a delegation of ECOWAS, a ministerial committee of ECOWAS, was supposed to go to Niger but they didn’t go because there was a flight problem. “Like I said, the main reaction will come from the ECOWAS Secretariat and our Minister of Foreign Affairs.” However, the minister could not be reached yesterday as calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone remained unreplied.

It’s a serious diplomatic meltdown — Atiku

Reacting to the withdrawal of the three countries from ECOWAS, former Vice President Atiku described it as a serious diplomatic meltdown.

Atiku, who reacted on his X handle (formerly twitter) said: “Reports about the withdrawal of three countries from our sub-regional body, @ecowas_cedeao, is concerning. It is a matter of serious diplomatic meltdown. We must keep the country’s national security interest, especially the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while we appraise the situation.”

Also reacting yesterday, member of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, who is also a member of ECOWAS parliament, said: “We are all aware of the continued military intervention in these three member states.

If they choose to opt out of ECOWAS because the management has not considered their decisions, so be it.

“What we are saying here is the security of the people, and if they feel that ECOWAS care less about their welfare, if that will work for them, that is fine.

“There has to be a proper housekeeping for every member state. Let’s ask ourselves, has ECOWAS practiced proper democracy? Look at the issue of employment saga within ECOWAS, how was it handled? This should serve as a warning signal.’’

Recall that the July 26, 2023 coup in Niger Republic dealt the latest blow in a succession of blows to democratic governance in the West African sub region, after military takeovers in Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022.

The European Union, the US and other allies of Sahelian states had pinned their hopes on Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum, as a guarantor of stability and a bulwark of sensible civilian governance. Whereas Islamist militants are stepping up a campaign of violence in Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger had largely contained jihadist activities over the years.

Bazoum had developed a security policy that included non-military initiatives such as engagement with repentant militants, while also forging closer ties with the US and French militaries.

But despite Bazoum’s track record, those who helped him ascend to power in 2021 did not protect him when General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the presidential guard, staged a putsch, apparently fearing that he was about to be removed from his position.

Niger’s donors, neighbours and security partners became divided over how to work with the country’s new military leadership. France withdrew its ambassador after a bitter standoff and pulled out its 1,500 troops out of Niger by the end of the year.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reeling from the instability caused by the military takeovers in Mali and Burkina Faso, imposed harsh sanctions – freezing all commercial and financial transactions between its member states and Niger, including electricity exports.

The EU has thus far backed ECOWAS in its demand that Bazoum be reinstated. While some EU member states increasingly favour a less hardline approach, France does not, limiting the EU’s ability to make inroads with the junta.

ECOWAS has imposed significant financial and economic sanctions and threatened to intervene militarily if negotiations to reinstate Bazoum hit a dead end. A military intervention appears unlikely, however, especially since senators from Nigeria’s northern states urged President Bola Tinubu to “use political and diplomatic means” to resolve the crisis, rather than send soldiers to Niger.

Those countries that favour an intervention – Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal – are unlikely to proceed without Nigeria’s participation.

Most observers agreed that such an intervention will prove disastrous for Niger. The security forces and many of the capital’s residents appear to back the junta, and an armed conflict could lead to civilian casualties.
On 15 September, Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which have experienced two coups over the past three years, signed a mutual defence pact with Niger’s military rulers, pledging to help one another fight jihadism and ward off “external aggression.”

It is unclear how much military assistance either country could provide the Nigerien junta, should the accord be put to the test, as both have their hands full trying to contain Islamist insurgencies.

But any involvement on their part would contribute to regional chaos. Moreover, military intervention will undermine ECOWAS itself, particularly if the junta (as well as opposition politicians in ECOWAS member states) keeps harping on the notion that the bloc is being manipulated by France, the former colonial power in much of the Sahel.