LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
West Africa faces a potential fracturing after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed a treaty to form a separate alliance, raising fears of worsening insecurity and economic disruption.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a 15-nation bloc, warned on Sunday of “disintegration” following the move by the three military-controlled countries.
The new alliance, dubbed the Alliance of Sahel States, underscores the rejection of ECOWAS by these nations. ECOWAS has been pressuring them to return to civilian rule after coups that brought the juntas to power.
ECOWAS Commission chief Omar Touray highlighted the potential losses if the three states leave, including the jeopardizing of a common market of 400 million people and the disruption of freedom of movement.
Funding for crucial economic projects exceeding $500 million in the departing countries could also be suspended, Touray warned at a summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
“Disintegration would not only disrupt movement and settlement of people, but also worsen insecurity,” Touray said, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation.
Security collaboration, particularly intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts, would be severely impacted by the withdrawal, he added.
The ECOWAS summit aimed to address the implications of the new alliance formed by the juntas, who seized power in coups between 2020 and 2023. These actions also led to severed diplomatic and military ties with regional allies and Western powers.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.