ECOWAS Develops Framework to Manage Mali, 2 Others’ Exit from Bloc
By Umar Farouk Bala,
The Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced deliberations in Accra, Ghana, to develop a strategic response to the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the regional bloc.
The Extraordinary Session, convened at the directive of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, seeks to create a contingency framework to manage the exit of the three Sahelian nations, with discussions centered on institutional relocation, policy continuity, and regional stability.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Council, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, opened the session by expressing appreciation to the host nation and reaffirmed the bloc’s enduring commitment to regional unity.
“It was never our intention to deliberate on the withdrawal of member states. However, in respecting the sovereignty of these nations under their current leadership, we must adapt and plan responsibly for the future,” Tuggar said.
The Council is considering memoranda presented by the ECOWAS Commission, including proposals for the suspension of programs in the exiting countries, addressing impediments to free movement, and the potential relocation of ECOWAS institutions based in the affected territories.
Tuggar described the challenge as a moment of reckoning for ECOWAS, but also an opportunity to strengthen its institutional resilience and deepen integration among the remaining members.
“As custodians of this legacy, it is our duty to strengthen ECOWAS and preserve it for the next generation. Our unity has been tested before—and each time, we emerged stronger,” he noted.
The session also coincided with the celebration of “ECOWAS at 50,” providing a reflective backdrop for the bloc’s leadership as they chart a path forward amid the geopolitical shifts in the region.
Amb. Tuggar called for constructive dialogue and decisive action to manage the disengagement process, while underscoring the enduring benefits of belonging to the ECOWAS community.
“Membership, as the saying goes, comes with privileges,” he said, in a subtle reminder of the value of regional solidarity.
