Negotiations Fail As Three Countries Leave West African Alliance ECOWAS

Following a year of negotiations, the Economic Community of West African States officially announced the departure of three of its members on Wednesday. “The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025.”

The statement went on to provide assurance that member nations would “keep ECOWAS’ doors open” and continue to accept any passports bearing the ECOWAS logo, as well as allow continued free movement between their nations 

The three military-ruled countries announced their intention to leave the economic pact in January of last year, stating that the organization has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.” All three nations are currently led by military officials who ascended to power through armed coups and have yet to restore democratic rule.

In Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré led a revolt against Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba in 2022, who had seized power from the country’s democratically elected president only a few months prior. Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in July of 2023 by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, and Mali’s Vice President Assimi Goïtahas led the Malian army to depose then-President Bah Ndaw in 2021.

Prior to their official departure from ECOWAS, the three military rulers announced the formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES), seeking mutual protection and bolstering each other’s legitimacy. They have also sought allies abroad, cozying up to Russia through economic and military treaties signed only a few months ago.

These and other developments, including the expulsion of French troops meant to assist with counter-terrorism operations, reflect a rise in nationalism among Sahelian nations and a collective turn to the East, towards Russia and China. This was evident in Niger’s decision to seize French uranium mining operations in December of last year, as well as recent protests against foreign interference in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Regardless of the direction AES will take in the future, it is almost certain that the domestic issues facing these countries will worsen before they get better. LittleAfrica News reported a rise in ethnic violence against Fulani minorities in Burkina Faso in December of last year, which bore a startling resemblance to the developments preceding the Sudanese Civil War in 2023.

As the nations of AES continue to distance themselves from both the West and their democratic neighbors, the question remains as to what their long-term goals will be.