West African leaders have tasked Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye with convincing military leaders from three nations not to withdraw from the regional economic bloc.
Faye was appointed envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during a summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday.
The terms of the dialogue were not immediately specified. The Senegalese president, who became Africa’s youngest leader after his election victory in March, “has all the qualifications required to serve as a facilitator,” Omar Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, said at the summit.
This comes days after the heads of the military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a treaty in Niamey, Niger’s capital, to establish a confederation aimed at strengthening political and economic ties.
The military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have recently announced their intention to not rejoin ECOWAS, criticising the bloc for failing in its mandate. They have instead pledged to solidify their union—the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—which was formed last year amidst strained relations with neighboring countries.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Niger’s military leader, described the nearly 50-year-old ECOWAS as a threat to their states and advocated for creating a sovereign community under the AES, independent of external influence.
The tri-country meeting took place just before an ECOWAS summit in Nigeria, highlighting significant divisions within the bloc. The withdrawal of these three countries poses a challenge to ECOWAS, which has been a pivotal political authority for its 15 member states.
The agreements signed by the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger cover non-aggression in security matters, as well as economic, monetary, and social cooperation. Mali is set to assume the presidency of the AES for the next year, with Burkina Faso hosting its parliamentary summit.
Analysts view Faye’s mission as crucial amidst an unprecedented regional crisis. Yet, they express skepticism about its immediate success due to ongoing tensions, according to Karim Manuel, a Middle East and Africa analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Mr. Touray characterized the current period as the bloc’s worst in years, highlighting the risk of regional disintegration if the three countries persist in withdrawing from ECOWAS agreements. Loss of free trade and movement benefits within member states could ensue.
Beyond economic repercussions and project suspensions, the departure of these countries could impact neighboring nations facing shared security challenges and ongoing crises. Observers caution that recent coups may embolden other military forces, especially in resource-rich countries where grievances are prevalent among citizens.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu urged to continue leading ECOWAS amid challenges, emphasised the need for robust partnerships to tackle the region’s daunting issues.
“Together, we can pave the way for a prosperous future for all of West Africa,” Mr. Tinubu affirmed.
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