A meeting of civil society organisations on Thursday expressed concern over the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Guinea from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its possible collateral effects.
The meeting, held under the auspices of the West African Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), said this could exacerbate security challenges across the Sahel, which covers 60 percent of West Africa's territory.
The military juntas of the three countries withdrew from ECOWAS in January this year after the regional body suspended them following successive coups in those countries: Mali, in August 2021; Burkina Faso, in September 2022; and Niger, in July 2023.
They formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu, the chairman of ECOWAS, called on the three countries to come back together. Tinubu’s call to the countries came about a month after they formed a confederation at the first summit of their ESA on July 6.
On Thursday, WADEMOS and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) jointly organised a “town hall meeting” in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. At the event, participants expressed concern about the potentially destabilising consequences of the ECOWAS countries’ exit.
“These countries occupy 60 percent of the land area of our region and contribute at least 10 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said WADEMOS Steering Committee Co-Chair Aliou Badere. “Their withdrawal could undermine our collective security efforts and further destabilize the region.”
Article page with promotion of financial support WADEMOS Steering Committee Co-President Aliou Badere
Mr Badere called on civil society organisations to engage with the governments of Guinea, Mali and Niger, urging them to return to democratic governance.
He noted that WADEMOS is actively exploring strategies to support ECOWAS in mitigating the consequences of these coups, stressing the importance of finding solutions free from political bias.
WADEMOS network coordinator Paul Kuffour said the failure of democratic institutions to deliver tangible benefits to citizens is one of the factors driving the rise of military coups in West Africa.
WADEMOS network coordinator Paul Kuffour
He said governments' failure to address fundamental issues and persistent human rights violations, which erode public trust, are fuelling democratic backsliding.
Mr. Kuffour pointed to recent constitutional amendments in Togo and Guinea as examples of how leaders manipulate legal frameworks for personal gain, further deepening the disconnect between elected officials and the people.
He said this disillusionment had compromised the integrity of electoral processes and fostered widespread distrust in electoral bodies, which were increasingly seen as lacking transparency.
ECOWAS reform
Mr. Kuffour urged ECOWAS to renegotiate processes aimed at restoring democratic governance.
He noted how disinformation and misinformation fuel distrust towards ECOWAS among West African citizens.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Kuffour reaffirmed WADEMOS’ commitment to promoting reforms within ECOWAS to achieve lasting stability in the region.
“We have analysed the possible implications of the withdrawal of these countries,” Kuffour said, warning that “it could lead to further instability, disintegration of the subregion and significant socio-economic impacts, especially for their citizens residing in ECOWAS member states.”
Mr. Kuffour also stressed the importance of a coordinated response to rising terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel, noting that such efforts can only succeed if ECOWAS remains a unified bloc in which all members collaborate on security strategies.
Broader implications for the region
The exit of Mali, Niger and Guinea from ECOWAS has broader implications than security. Emmanuel Yeboah, a guest speaker at the WADEMOS event, said the negative consequences of poor governance have led to military coups in four of the fifteen ECOWAS member states.
He noted that the sanctions imposed on these states after their withdrawal have compromised regional security and hampered free trade.
For his part, the president of I'UREM-CEDAO in Côte d'Ivoire, Sekur Kaba, urged diaspora associations to unite in order to reintegrate the Sahel countries into ECOWAS.
He warned that the application of ECOWAS laws against citizens of Sahel countries could have serious repercussions, particularly given the current difficulties they face due to sanctions.
“The time has come to speak with one voice,” Kaba said.
A stronger voice for the people
Participants also strongly opposed what they described as “authoritarian colonial legacies” and foreign interference in the region’s internal affairs.
Participants gathered in Abuja on Thursday for a WADEMOS community engagement event.
They called on the three countries to return to ECOWAS.
The forum recommended the establishment of a strong network of CSOs and diaspora to mobilize resources for the promotion and protection of human rights across the region.
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They stressed the importance of bridging the gap between citizens and their leaders, advocating for a more democratic and responsive ECOWAS.
The forum called for innovative approaches to promoting governance and suggested using the arts as a means to promote democracy and good governance in West Africa.