The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been asked not to close the door of further engagement with exiting members of the body including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger because of its impact on security in the sub-region.
A consortium of civil society groups in West Africa, under the aegis of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) made this call in Abuja on Thursday.
The group, led by Nigeria’s James Ugochukwu, noted that the exit of the three military controlled West African nations constitutes a challenge to regional integration efforts, and called for urgent dialogue and collaboration to safeguard the sub-region’s stability and development.
It argued that the three nations’ withdrawal from ECOWAS has sparked uncertainties regarding security coordination, economic cooperation, and governance in the sub-region.
“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS raises concerns about coordinated counterterrorism efforts, as these nations play critical roles in the fight against insurgency in the Sahel.
The security situation in West Africa remains dire, with extremist groups such as Boko Haram, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), and Jama’at Nasr alIslam wal Muslimin (JNIM) expanding their operations.
“The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by these countries introduces a parallel regional bloc that may complicate efforts to address pressing issues such as terrorism, trade, and migration.
“While ECOWAS has long served as a pillar of regional unity, this exit signals growing dissatisfaction with its approaches to security and governance,” it said.
The group appealed to ECOWAS and AES leaders to maintain open channels of communication to prevent further fragmentation and ensure collaborative efforts in tackling shared challenges.
WACSOF expressed concern about the state of democracy and press freedom in the sub-region and urged ECOWAS to enforce its democratic governance code more rigorously and work towards restoring constitutional order in suspended member states.
It observed that the sub-region currently stands at a critical juncture, advocating that the path forward must be that of collaboration, and not division.
“WACSOF urges ECOWAS and AES leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, prioritise peace and stability, and reaffirm their commitment to regional integration.
“The challenges ahead are immense, but with a United approach, West Africa can navigate this transition and emerge stronger,” the group said.
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