The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been urged to maintain engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger despite their exit, given its impact on security in the sub-region.
A consortium of civil society groups under the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) made the call in Abuja on Thursday.
Led by Nigeria’s James Ugochukwu, the group warned that the departure of the three military-led nations poses a challenge to regional integration. It called for urgent dialogue and collaboration to safeguard West Africa’s stability and development.
The consortium also highlighted concerns over security coordination, economic cooperation, and governance, stressing that the nations’ withdrawal has created uncertainty in the region.
“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS raises concerns about coordinated counterterrorism efforts, as these nations play critical roles in the fight against insurgency in the Sahel.
The security situation in West Africa remains dire, with extremist groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), and Jama’at Nasr alIslam wal Muslimin (JNIM) expanding their operations.
“The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by these countries introduces a parallel regional bloc that may complicate efforts to address pressing issues such as terrorism, trade, and migration.
“While ECOWAS has long served as a pillar of regional unity, this exit signals growing dissatisfaction with its approaches to security and governance.” It said.
The group appealed to ECOWAS and AES leaders to maintain open channels of communication to prevent further fragmentation and ensure collaborative efforts in tackling shared challenges.
WACSOF expressed concern about the state of democracy and press freedom in the sub-region and urged ECOWAS to enforce its democratic governance code more rigorously and work towards restoring constitutional order in suspended member states.
It observed that the sub-region currently stands at a critical juncture, advocating that the path forward must be that of collaboration, and not division.
“WACSOF urges ECOWAS and AES leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, prioritise peace and stability, and reaffirm their commitment to regional integration.
“The challenges ahead are immense, but with a United approach, Wets Africa can navigate this transition and emerge stronger,” the group said.
