ECOWAS – Projects Valued Over $500m Be Halted if Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso Withdraw
ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc, warned on Saturday that the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso would have serious consequences for the region’s economy, potentially halting projects worth over $500 million.
The authority also acknowledged that the exit of the three member states would affect the immigration status of citizens, who may be required to obtain visas to travel within the region.
The chairman of the authority, Bola Tinubu, stated that although the issues were daunting, they presented an opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of peace, security, and regional integration.
ECOWAS also highlighted other implications of the withdrawal, including socio-economic, political, security, and humanitarian impacts.
The authority advised that dialogue and negotiations should be the most viable options for addressing the ongoing tensions.
On February 24, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held an extraordinary session of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria.
The meeting was attended by several leaders, including the President of Ivory Coast, the Togo President, and the Ghana President, among others.
During the session, ECOWAS announced that it lifted some sanctions on Niger Republic, Mali, and Guinea, including a no-fly zone and border closures, effective immediately. The decision was made on purely humanitarian grounds to ease the suffering caused as a result.
ECOWAS also encouraged the three member states to adhere to the provisions of the 1993 revised treaty relating to withdrawal, particularly Article 91.
The authority urged the countries to sustain their rapprochement and overtures towards ECOWAS and continue to remain seized of the situation.
Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Announce Withdrawal
In January, three West African nations led by military forces announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
They accused the organization of becoming a threat to its member countries.
The joint statement issued by the military juntas stated that they had decided, in complete sovereignty, to withdraw immediately from the ECOWAS.
According to them, the West African bloc failed to support their fight against terrorism and security threats while imposing illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions.
However, the ECOWAS disclosed in a statement that it had not been informed of the countries’ decision to leave the bloc. Its protocol requires that withdrawal takes up to one year to complete.
The ECOWAS also stated that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the community and the authority is committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
Nigeria Push For Dialogue
After the military juntas announced their decision to withdraw, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, stated that Nigeria is willing to engage in dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The statement emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS’ democratic values and economic benefits for the region. The spokesperson expressed disappointment at how the announcement was made and highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to proactively resolve conflicts in the region.
The statement concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s support for ECOWAS’ commitment to protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of all citizens of Member States.
