“No Going Back To ECOWAS” – Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso Declares

On Saturday, General Abdourahamane Tiani, the military leader of Niger Republic, declared that Niger, along with neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, has definitively severed ties with the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.

Speaking at the opening of a summit in Niamey, which brought together the three Sahelian nations, General Tiani said, “our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS.”

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This development comes despite continuous efforts by ECOWAS to re-engage the three countries.

Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed his disappointment on Thursday, noting that despite numerous attempts to facilitate dialogue and soften sanctions, the three nations have shown no intention of rejoining the bloc.

During the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja, Dr. Touray highlighted the lack of a negotiation framework with the authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since their collective exit from ECOWAS on January 28.

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“Despite our entreaties, in the form of softening of sanctions, invitation of the governments to technical meetings, and request for meetings, we have not yet gotten the right signals from these Member States,” he stated.

The withdrawal of these countries from ECOWAS has led to a divided West Africa, with two presidential summits being held this weekend.

The first summit, held on Saturday in Niamey, marked the inaugural meeting of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a new regional bloc formed by the three nations.

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The second summit, scheduled for Sunday in Nigeria, will see leaders of the broader ECOWAS community discussing their future relations with the AES.

The establishment of the AES in September came as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger accused ECOWAS of being manipulated by France and failing to provide adequate support in their fight against jihadist insurgencies.

Consequently, the three countries have expelled French troops and pivoted towards new allies, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran, whom they refer to as their “sincere partners.”

The Burkinabe presidency emphasized that the agenda for the Niamey summit would focus on “the fight against terrorism” and “the consolidation of cooperation” among the AES members.

This summit is the first official gathering of the three Sahelian leaders since they came to power through coups between 2020 and 2023.

In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Niamey to draft a text establishing the confederation, which is expected to be ratified by the heads of state at the summit.

Sunday’s ECOWAS summit in Abuja will provide an opportunity for the broader community to address their relations with the newly formed AES.