The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been within the news these days – mostly for the flawed reasons.
The bloc is facing its biggest crisis since its founding in 1975. Three of the 15 countries – Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali – have split from the alliance of Sahel states and formed another alliance.
While the Ecowas hold a gathering On 7 July, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali met with the heads of state and government of their members in Abuja. Parallel meetings in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
The three countries have praised to not return to the fold of Ecowas.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have some things in common: they’re former French colonies and are currently ruled by military juntas.
At The Conversation Africa, we have now been working with academic experts to realize insights into the impact of the breakaway group and the longer term of Ecowas. Here are five key articles we have now published on developments in West Africa.
Niger because the last straw
On July 26, 2023, the Presidential Guard in Niger arrested President Mohamed Bazoum and the commander of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, declared himself its leader.
In response, Ecowas imposed sanctions on Niger. It also threatened military motion against the junta. Olumba Ezenwa and Olayinka Ajala explain how the specter of military motion prompted Burkina Faso and Mali – each under military rule and Ecowas sanctions – to form an alliance and mutual defense pact with Niger.
A not so common currency
Before the political crisis at the guts of Ecowas, members of the regional bloc had discussed the creation of a standard currency.
But this plan suffered a setback when the pinnacle of the Nigerian military junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, spoke on February 11, 2024 of the possible creation of a standard currency for the breakaway countries. Thierno Thioune analyses the possible impact and feasibility of this step.
Impact on trade
The reduction of Ecowas’s membership from 15 to 12 has significant implications for the free movement of products and services throughout the region.
A foretaste of what this might mean for the region was the closure of borders as a part of the sanctions against the military coup in Niger.
Olivier Walther explains the devastating consequences of the border closures between the Sahel states and the coastal countries of West Africa for the regional economy.
Migration barriers
The decision to go away the regional bloc also raises questions on what impact it might have on the flexibility of residents of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to maneuver freely inside the region. The agreement inside Ecowas provides for residents to give you the option to maneuver between countries within the region with no visa and to have future residency rights and the proper to establish a business.
Franzisca Zanker, Amanda Bisong and Leonie Jegen argue that the three countries have quite a bit to lose if their withdrawal from ECOWAS limits their mobility.
There might still be an answer
To find an answer, Ecowas has appointed Senegal's President Bassirou Faye to act as a special mediator with the breakaway states. This was certainly one of the choices taken on the recent Ecowas summit of heads of state and government.
Ahead of the summit, Olayinka Ajala identified six steps that the Ecowas leadership could take to heal the rift and restore confidence within the regional bloc.
image credit : theconversation.com