ECOWAS pushes for reintegration of breakaway Sahel States

ECOWAS is urging Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reconsider their exit from the bloc. They have until July 29, 2025, to return without new negotiations.

These three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) earlier this year. If they reverse their withdrawal by the deadline, they can rejoin ECOWAS easily.

At a High-Level Policy Dialogue in Accra, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah spoke about regional ties. He noted that citizens of AES nations can still move freely across ECOWAS borders. Collaboration on security and humanitarian issues is also crucial.

The two-day conference was organized by WANEP with SSRC and CORN West Africa. It gathered regional and international stakeholders to discuss West Africa's geopolitical climate. They focused on ECOWAS’s role in addressing conflict and integration challenges.

In his keynote speech titled “Reflections on the State of Affairs in West Africa,” Dr. Musah revealed that Presidents Diomaye Faye of Senegal and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo will engage AES leaders for dialogue.

He linked regional instability to governance and development issues. WANEP Executive Director Levinia Addae-Mensah highlighted risks like fragmentation and democratic erosion.

“The recent exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger shows deep fractures we must face,” she said. Addae-Mensah called for new strategies involving civil society and regional bodies to build a resilient West Africa.