The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened an extraordinary session of its Council of Ministers on Tuesday to formalize contingency plans for the impending withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc.
The meeting, held at the ECOWAS headquarters in Accra, follows directives from the Authority of Heads of State and Government to address the logistical, economic, and political ramifications of the three Sahel nations’ exit.
Delegates are reviewing separation modalities, including the relocation of ECOWAS institutions currently based in the withdrawing countries, the status of ongoing regional programs, and measures to preserve the free movement of people and goods across borders.
The session comes six months after the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their intention to leave the bloc, citing dissatisfaction with ECOWAS’s stance on recent coups and its perceived alignment with Western interests.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, who is chairing the deliberations, emphasized the need for structured disengagement. “While respecting the sovereign decisions of member states, we must safeguard regional integration achievements, particularly the protocols on free movement that underpin our common market,” he stated in opening remarks.
The withdrawal presents complex challenges, including the fate of ECOWAS’s regional security missions and development projects in the affected countries.
Analysts note that the exit of three key members which together account for nearly a quarter of the bloc’s landmass and 15% of its population could weaken ECOWAS’s influence and exacerbate security vacuums in the Sahel, where jihadist insurgencies persist.
The Accra meeting is expected to produce recommendations for the upcoming summit of ECOWAS heads of state, with observers anticipating phased withdrawal timelines to mitigate disruptions.
However, lingering tensions over sanctions previously imposed on the juntas suggest negotiations will be delicate. The outcome may redefine West Africa’s geopolitical architecture, testing the bloc’s cohesion amid competing visions for regional governance.
