A West African leaders’ summit has commenced just a day after the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formed a new alliance, severing ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the ECOWAS summit follows calls from several West African leaders for renewed dialogue with the three Sahel countries, which signed a new defense pact on Saturday during their summit in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
The Alliance of Sahel States, announced by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger last September, facilitates cooperation in the event of armed rebellion or external aggression. The three nations withdrew from ECOWAS in January in response to the regional bloc’s strong stance against the coups.
The timing of the Sahel alliance’s announcement was intended to demonstrate the three countries’ capability to operate independently of ECOWAS.
“However, analysts suggest that Mali and Niger, in particular, may face significant challenges if ECOWAS member countries choose to isolate these two landlocked nations,” he stated.
Currently, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger appear to have momentum and are seeking support from the global community. ECOWAS faces significant challenges in bringing these countries back into the fold, should they be willing to rejoin.
During Saturday’s summit, Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani described the 50-year-old ECOWAS as “a threat to our states,” asserting that the three countries aim to establish an alliance free from foreign influence.
ECOWAS had lifted sanctions on Niger in February to improve relations, but progress has been minimal. The bloc imposed sanctions after the July 2023 coup that brought Tchiani to power. Burkina Faso experienced its coup in September 2022, and Mali in August 2021.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, a media assistant to the Nigerian president, noted that despite strained relations between ECOWAS and the Sahel alliance, significant progress has been made in the past year.
“Managing the fragile situations in these countries—although not ideal—has helped to de-escalate tensions that could have worsened,” he stated.
As the Sahel region shifts towards aligning with Russia, the United States is set to complete its withdrawal from a key base in Niger on Sunday, established to combat armed groups allied with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS). Approximately 1,000 US military personnel are expected to withdraw from Niger’s Air Base 101.
Following the coups, the breakaway countries have increasingly strained relations with the West, particularly condemning influence from former colonial ruler France. French troops left Mali entirely in 2022 and completed their withdrawal from Niger and Burkina Faso last year.
Impact on Fighting Armed Groups
Despite the political and military shifts following the coups, armed groups continue to pose significant threats to the region. Security consultant Kabir Adamu emphasized that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will still require support from the rest of the region.
“If they operate in isolation from other ECOWAS countries or Sahel nations, armed groups will exploit these gaps, continuing to impose a heavy toll on both the security forces and citizens of the three countries,” he explained.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 8,000 people were killed in Burkina Faso in 2023, with setbacks against armed groups in Niger. In Mali, military forces working with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries have been involved in “indiscriminate killings” of civilians.
