Abuja, Nigeria: ECOWAS Summit Addresses Regional Crisis

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened in a pivotal summit amidst a crisis gripping the region, prompted by a series of coups and attempted coups across member states since 2020.

The summit, chaired by ECOWAS commission President Omar Touray, concentrated on the challenges stemming from political unrest in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger. President Touray announced the formation of a committee from Benin, Togo, and Sierra Leone tasked with engaging Niger’s CNSP leadership to determine progress toward a short transition and conditions for lifting imposed sanctions.

Echoing Touray’s sentiments, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current ECOWAS chair, emphasised the necessity of realistic and abbreviated transition plans for countries under military rule. The discussions also addressed the delayed or uncertain transitions to civilian rule and elections in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

Of significant concern was the recent coup in Niger, which led to tough sanctions imposed by ECOWAS, causing trade suspension. The military rulers in Niger, holding President Mohamed Bazoum in detention, have proposed a transition back to civilian rule lasting up to three years, a proposition contested by ECOWAS calling for Bazoum’s immediate return to power.

While ECOWAS recognised the humanitarian crisis in Niger, it accused the ruling authorities of impeding the flow of permitted aid into the country. However, specific conditions for an acceptable short transition in Niger were not explicitly outlined.

Efforts to negotiate the lifting of sanctions involved discussions on freeing Bazoum and enabling his departure to a third country as a preliminary step. However, Niger’s military leaders declined this proposal and sought mediation from Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe.

Despite growing tensions and an emerging “Alliance of Sahel States” among Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso following the departure of French troops, ECOWAS aims to navigate a path towards democratic governance and stability in the region. While diplomatic efforts continue, the spectre of military intervention in Niger remains a lingering option for ECOWAS, albeit one seen as increasingly unlikely.

The recent unrest in Sierra Leone, characterised by a coup attempt claiming lives, and a subsequent turmoil in Guinea-Bissau, has added to the regional instability, prompting ECOWAS to address the broader issue of democratic governance and security across member states.