Read 2 minutes

The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  has become effective on Wednesday.

During the ECOWAS Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria in December, the bloc formally accepted the countries’ requests to exit, in line with Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty.  Under ECOWAS regulations, a member state must submit a written notice one year before its intended departure.

The road to exit

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s collective discontent with ECOWAS-imposed sanctions prompted their decision to leave. These sanctions were primarily triggered by military takeovers in the three nations between 2020 and 2023. Leaders in the three countries criticized the economic restrictions, arguing they exacerbated their already struggling economies.

The three nations’ exit represents a seismic shift for ECOWAS, a bloc founded in 1975 to promote economic integration, peace, and stability in West Africa. Analysts warn of their departure’s potential financial and security repercussions, particularly as the Sahel region grapples with escalating instability.

“The physical impact is that the ECOWAS region would shrink 50 percent in size,” conflict and security analyst Senator Iroegbu says. “The economy too, will shrink because even though their economy, combined, is quite small, it’s still an addition towards ECOWAS.”

Policy analyst Ovigwe Eguegu of Development Reimagined says there has been a lot of cooperation in the security sector, particularly between the Sahelian countries and those at the coast. He says Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s departure will disrupt the fight against organized crime, terrorism, drugs, and human trafficking.

“These collaborations have been key in fighting these crimes, in this region, said Eguego. “This means that their exit will complicate the matter even more.”

The Sahel region remains a global terrorism epicenter, with Islamic militant groups responsible for nearly 22,000 deaths between 2007 and 2022, according to the Global Terrorism Index.

Genesis of a new bloc: Alliance of Sahel States

In response to the challenges of insurgency, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), to strengthen regional cooperation and self-reliance. This alliance plans to establish a 5,000-strong joint military force to combat militant groups in the Sahel.

Despite their withdrawal, the departing countries say they want to maintain certain ties with ECOWAS member states. For instance, they have confirmed they will remain visa-free for citizens of ECOWAS nations. Meanwhile, bilateral security agreements, such as a recently signed border security pact between Nigeria and Niger, suggest that collaborative efforts may persist even post-exit.

Iroegbu emphasized the importance of continued security cooperation.

“ECOWAS should still keep their doors open…in terms of security, they can have a form of relation—security-wise, intelligence-wise—so they’re not completely cut off.”

A Defining moment for regional cooperation

The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger marks a defining moment for West Africa, challenging the region’s five-decade tradition of economic and security cooperation. While the immediate focus remains on mitigating the impact of their departure, the long-term implications could reshape regional dynamics in both governance and security.

As ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States chart their respective paths forward, the decisions made in the coming months will undoubtedly influence the future of the Sahel and the broader West African region.

ECOWAS will meet later this year to plan the bloc’s strategy for future relations with the three countries. Members remain hopeful that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger consider rejoining ECOWAS in the future.