Withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali from ECOWAS disrupting security frameworks – Air Chief

Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has disrupted existing security frameworks in the sub-region.

He added that plans by Chad to pull out of the Multinational Joint Task Force would affect the ability of the joint security force to conduct operations.

Air Marshal Abubakar, who stated this at a review meeting with Field Commanders in Abuja, said terror groups’ use of drones carrying locally fabricated grenades in a kamikaze role to attack troops in Damboa last year indicates the growing efforts of terrorists to proliferate drone attack technology.

He emphasised that it had become critical to implement a comprehensive and integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system to safeguard troops and air assets.

Recall that on January 29, 2025, ECOWAS recognised the exit of three of its former members, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic upon the expiration of a one-year notice period.

However, in “the spirit of regional solidarity,” ECOWAS asked its member countries to still recognise the national passports of the three exiting countries bearing the ECOWAS logo until further notice.

Their departure from the bloc has fractured the region and is leaving the ECOWAS grouping with an uncertain future.

The three countries formally notified ECOWAS of their plan for an “immediate” withdrawal in January 2024, citing the organisation’s excessive dependence on France in particular.

Paris has become the common enemy of the three juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.