THE socio-political strength of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) member countries could be threatened as the three military-led West African countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have concluded plans to establish a regional alliance.
The regional alliance called the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), seeks to form different geo-political leaning different from their former colonial ruler, France.
Although no official date has been given for the alliance kick-off, the AES would be formed to seal closer ties with Russia,findings have shown.
The alliance plans was confirmed at a meeting of foreign ministers of the aforementioned countries in Niger’s capital Niamey on Friday, May 17.
In a statement issued to confirm the stance of the countries, Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, said, “The objective was to finalize the draft text relating to the institutionalization and operationalization of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).”
Sangare noted that the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date.
In his submission, the Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop added, “We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born.”
Recall, in January, the three Sahel countries announced their exit from the ECOWAS claiming that the body, established in 1975, was influenced by the French. The ICIR reported how the exit would affect ECOWAS as regards security and economic prospects.
Furthermore, the disagreement between the trio and ECOWAS began when the military suspended the democratic government in a military coup. While Mali had its military intervention in 2020, Niger and Burkina Faso’s government were taken over by the military in 2022.
ECOWAS, now headed by President Bola Tinubu, has issued sanctions, including disconnecting the electricity supply and imposing a no-flight zone, which was later lifted.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS, Abdel-Fatau Musah, has said that the community would not stop the trio from forming a new group.
Musah said, “ECOWAS’s position is that we want these countries back into the community and we are doing everything to get them back.”
The ICIR has reported how the three countries recorded 3,500 terrorist attacks which led to more than 7,000 deaths within the countries.
Kehinde Ogunyale tells stories by using data to hold power into account. You can send him a mail at jameskennyogunyale@gmail or Twitter: Prof_KennyJames | LinkedIn: Kehinde Ogunyale