After over a year of diplomatic tensions, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially exited West Africa's main political and trade group, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The organization's official announcement was made on January 29 by President Omar Alieu Touray.
On the eve of their final withdrawal, people in the three countries took to the streets in their capitals to celebrate the decision and show support for their military junta, which form now the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
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“Today was the day to confirm and reaffirm our definitive and irreversible desire to leave this organization, which is against the people and not for the people,” celebrated Nigerian Falmata Taya in Niamey.
In the neighboring country of Burkina Faso, Asseta Salogo was among those present in the capital, Ouagadougou. “We've been waiting for this decision for a long time. Right now, we are saying: ECOWAS, leave, forever. We can't go back,” she said.
France-associated bloc
The bloc is seen as a threat to the region's sovereignty, mainly because of its proximity to France. This is explained by Mamane Sani Adamou, general secretary and one of the founders of the Revolutionary Organization for New Democracy (ORDN), a party created in 1992 in Niger.
“One of the three main goals of France's foreign policy in West Africa is, first, to keep our states under French control and prevent real independence. Second, to counter the influence of Nigeria. Third, to dominate regional organizations. Therefore, regional organizations must remain under supervision and shouldn't become too important.”
And currently, ECOWAS is financed by Paris. There is French money in the ECOWAS budget,” says Adamou.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso had already announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, but governing rules of the organization stipulate one year for the withdrawal of its member states to be made official.
After July 26, 2023, Niger renamed streets, squares, and monuments to honor pan-Africanists and revolutionary socialists/ Pedro Stropasolas/Brasil de Fato
The rupture was triggered by the July 26, 2023, coup d'état in Niger. Soon after the uprising that ousted former president Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily to reinstate the deposed president. The bloc also imposed severe economic sanctions on Niger, considered “inhumane, illegal, and illegitimate” by the country's population and its leaders.
“ECOWAS' reaction was to suspend Niger, which is logical in ECOWAS' texts, but there was also a series of measures. The closure of borders, the freezing of Niger's assets in banks, the assets of the state, not only of the leaders of the military junta but of the entire state of Niger. The electricity supply was also cut off, even though the government had a long-term contract with Nigeria,” says Adamou, recalling the impact of the sanctions.
The creation of the AES
The growing isolation of the three countries from their neighbors prompted Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023. The AES has strengthened economic cooperation among its members and established itself as an important military pact against external threats.
As the most recent measure, the three countries agreed to create a joint force of 5,000 soldiers to combat Islamic fundamentalist groups in the Sahel.
Habibou Mouftaou is president of the People's Emergency Movement for the Development of Niger, one of the most important grassroots organizations in the African nation. He sees progress in his country's political and social situation following the formation of the AES.
“The country was in chaos, in difficulties. But today, in two years, we have seen a categorical change in many areas through these authorities. So the relationship between us and the authorities is an ideological one. They are revolutionary and anti-imperialist people. Today, these authorities dared to tell the French army to leave the country. This has never existed in our country for more than 60 years,” emphasizes Mouftaou.
Biometric passport
The withdrawal of the three founding members leaves the future of ECOWAS uncertain, precisely in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the regional political and economic bloc created in 1975. The organization now has 12 member countries. “We have a series of challenges, and we are not unaware of the magnitude of these challenges,” said Omar Alieu Touray, the bloc's president.
In a press statement released on the day of the announcement, ECOWAS kept its “doors open” to the AES countries, pointing out that it will allow citizens of the three nations to “continue to enjoy the right of free movement and visa-free travel,” as well as “recognize passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo” until further notice.
The new AES passport will be operational in the coming months and should improve the circulation of the population of the three countries/ Presidência de Burkina Faso
One day after their official departure, the three AES countries announced a single passport, which has already come into effect. In addition to simplifying travel between the three nations, the new biometric passport is considered an important step towards establishing an independent identity for the Sahel states.
“The AES is the rebirth of Africa. And I think that all countries that aspire to the rebirth of Africa should join the AES,” celebrates Malian Nestor Podasse, from the streets of Kangaba.
*With AFP
Edited by: Dayze Rocha
