ECOWAS is falling apart, save it

THE decision of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to suddenly withdraw their membership of the Economic Community of West African States undermines regional and socioeconomic integration and sabotages the legacies of ECOWAS's founding fathers. Nigeria must play a crucial role to make them reverse their decision.

Amidst the stifling sanctions placed on the trio by the bloc, including closing borders, denying them trade and funds from the West African Monetary Union, the military regimes led by Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Assimi Goita of Mali, and Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger Republic, jointly announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on Sunday.

This did not come as a shock. The countries cited undue influence of Western powers in the affairs of ECOWAS, stressing that it has failed to help tackle insecurity and terrorism in the Sahel. “After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali, and Niger note with much regret, bitterness, and great disappointment that their organisation has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism,” they said.

This is unprecedented. Inaugurated in May 1975 in Lagos to foster regional development, it was only Mauritania that exited ECOWAS in 1999 after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

The implications of the latest schism are daunting. The security and economic cooperation of the region would be adversely threatened by their decision. Strong bilateral engagements with other blocs and organisations would be frustrated or heavily diminished by polarisation.

The Pan-African ideology which seeks to promote brotherhood, collaboration, diminish colonial hegemony, and entrench shared values while asserting equality with others, including their former colonial masters, may have been battered by the withdrawals.

The PUNCH reported that the trade volume witnessed by ECOWAS in 2022 may nosedive. ECOWAS made $277.22 billion with Burkina Faso contributing $4.55 billion to exports and $5.63 billion to imports, Mali $3.91 billion and $6.45 billion, and Niger $446.14 million and $3.79 billion.

To the trio, the intervention of the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, which is encapsulated in the threat of war to restore democracy, and the eventual sanctions, portrayed the ECOWAS leadership as stooges of the Western powers.

In part, it exposes France's noxious assimilation policy on its former vassal states, its relentless intrusion into the politics of the Sahel, the failure of its military bases to combat terrorism in Mali and Burkina Faso, and its reckless exploitation of Niger's uranium without commensurate reward and development in the country.

The withdrawals have created a new scramble for West Africa, with Russia and China set to feature prominently. But African countries do not need new colonial masters; they need regional cooperation and need to support one another to negotiate with other countries as equals.

In the past, ECOWAS, through its Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, restored the peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Under Muhammadu Buhari, it played key roles in the sustenance of democracy in The Gambia, but it has faltered in combating the terrorism, Fulani herdsmen rapine and banditry that pervade the region. To be effective, ECOWAS must deliver on these niggles.

This comes at a time when strategic geopolitical alignments are taking place to tackle collective socioeconomic, development and security concerns. It is unfortunate that West Africa is falling apart. Founded in 1993, the European Union has expanded from its six original members to 27 countries. Other regional blocs like the Southern African Development Community, and the Arab League are waxing stronger. This is how it should be.

However, democracy is non-negotiable in ECOWAS. Urgently, Tinubu must deploy his skills to lead the reintegration and strengthening of ECOWAS by reviewing the grievances of the leavers.