ECOWAS - The African Mirror

Jul

11

2024

West Africa trade will take a hit as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso leave Ecowas

BUSINESS

THE membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February. Founded in 1975, Ecowas is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union to foster regional integration on the continent. Its main objective is to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation. Since 1975, Ecowas and its sister organisation the West African Economic and Monetary Union (known by its French acronym, Uemoa) have implemented numerous policies aimed at improving how west African countries trade…

Jul

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso dumps Ecowas

NEWS

THE political and economic unity of West Africa, a powerful bloc within Africa, was thrown up in the air after three powerful states took a monumental decision this weekend. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, three West African countries currently under military rule, have signed a confederation treaty, solidifying their intent to pursue a path independent of the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Reuters reports that the signing took place at the inaugural summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), marking a closer alignment between these nations in the insurgency-affected central Sahel region. The news agency notes…

Jul

06

2024

By OLAYINKA AJALA

Ecowas summit: 6 steps the leaders can take to restore stability and growth in west Africa

NEWS

THIS year’s summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) takes place against a challenging environment for the regional bloc. Recent developments in the region have included coups, insecurity and economic instability. Climate change also poses challenges. Six successful and two attempted coups in the region since 2020 were followed by the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the bloc. All three were founding members of Ecowas (in 1975) and are key countries in the Sahel. The 15-member economic bloc has developed the most integrated economic community in Africa through a free trade area, free movement…

Jun

29

2024

By OPE ADETAYO

West Africa’s ECOWAS bloc needs up to $2.6 billion a year for security force

NEWS

WEST Africa's regional bloc needs up to $2.6 billion annually to establish a 5,000-strong security force to combat terrorism, according to one of the options being considered by defence officials at a meeting. Defence and finance ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja to decide on the size of a potential force and how much would be required to fund it. Coup-hit West Africa is grappling with a raft of political crises that have hurt regional cooperation. In January, military-ruled Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali decided to exit the 15-member union. Since…

Apr

02

2024

By FADIMA KONTAO

Mali political parties request elections after junta shuns transition promise

NEWS

POLITICAL parties in Mali have requested a time frame for presidential elections after the ruling junta failed to organise polls within a promised 24-month transition back to democracy. Mali has been under military rule since August 2020, the first of eight coups in West and Central Africa over four years, including in its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger. Regional blocs have been trying to negotiate transitions but the interim governments are dragging their feet. Mali's current junta seized power in a second 2021 coup and later promised to take 24 months from March 2022 to restore civilian rule, with a start date…

Feb

29

2024

By The African Mirror

West Africa trade will take a hit as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso leave Ecowas

BUSINESS

THE membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February. Founded in 1975, Ecowas is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union to foster regional integration on the continent. Its main objective is to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation. OLIVIER WALTHER, Assistant Professor in Geography, University of Florida Since 1975, Ecowas and its sister organisation the West African Economic and Monetary Union (known by its French acronym, Uemoa) have implemented numerous…

Feb

25

2024

By FELIX ONUAH

West African bloc lifts sanctions on junta-led Niger

NEWS

THE West African regional bloc said that it would lift strict sanctions on Niger as it seeks a new strategy to dissuade three junta-led states from withdrawing from the political and economic union - a move that threatens regional integration. Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met to address a political crisis in the coup-hit region that deepened in January with military-ruled Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali's decision to exit the 15-member bloc. After closed-door talks, ECOWAS said it had decided to lift Niger sanctions including border closures, the freezing of central bank and state assets, and the…

Feb

23

2024

By FRANZISCA ZANKER, AMANDA BISONG and LEONIE JEGEN

Free movement in West Africa: three countries leaving Ecowas could face migration hurdles

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

FOR Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, a recent decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has thrown up questions about how they will navigate regional mobility in future. Ecowas covers a variety of sectors, but migration is a major one. The bloc’s protocols since 1979 have long been seen as a shining example of free movement on the continent. They gave citizens the right to move between countries in the region without a visa, and a prospective right of residence and setting up businesses. As multidisciplinary scholars, we have previously researched migration governance in west…

Feb

21

2024

By The African Mirror

Guinea junta temporarily dissolves government, presidency says

NEWS

GUINEA'S self-appointed military leaders have dissolved the government and will appoint a new one, the presidency's secretary general said in a filmed statement. The West African country has been under military rule since a junta seized power in a September 2021 coup. The region's main economic and political bloc, ECOWAS, has been pressuring the junta, one of several in West Africa, to hold elections within an acceptable delay and restore civilian rule. Both parties agreed on a 24-month transition timeline in October 2022. The presidency's secretary general, Amara Camara, unexpectedly announced on Monday that the government had been dissolved. Without providing a…

Feb

17

2024

By The African Mirror

Junta-led Sahel states confirm plan to form tri-state confederation

NEWS

JUNTA-LED Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger plan to proceed with the establishment of a confederation, the Malian foreign ministry said, as the three countries deepen ties via an alliance that threatens broader West African integration. The neighbours in the impoverished Sahel region announced in January they would quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - a decision the bloc has urged them to rethink, warning of the additional hardships this withdrawal would bring. At a meeting in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou, their three ministers confirmed a joint commitment to withdraw from ECOWAS without delay and continue cooperation under a pact known…