The Military Leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tiani, made a declaration on Saturday, stating that the people of Niger, along with their neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, have definitively severed ties with the West African bloc, ECOWAS. This announcement was made at the opening of a summit in Niamey, where the three Sahelian nations, who withdrew from the larger group earlier this year, gathered to discuss their future partnership.
General Tiani’s statement emphasized that the people of these countries have “irrevocably turned their backs” on ECOWAS, signaling a permanent departure from the regional bloc. This move follows the announcement made on January 28 by the three military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, declaring their intention to leave ECOWAS.
Despite efforts by ECOWAS to reconcile with the trio, they have shown no signs of returning. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed his disappointment on Thursday, stating that the regional bloc has yet to establish a framework for negotiation with the authorities in the three Sahelian countries regarding their decision to withdraw membership.
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The summit in Niamey marks the first meeting between the military leaders of the new regional bloc, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established in September. The mutual defense pact was formed after the three countries accused Paris of manipulating ECOWAS and not providing sufficient support for anti-jihadist efforts. This led to their exit from ECOWAS and a shift towards new partners, including Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The fight against terrorism and the consolidation of cooperation will be top priorities on the agenda for Saturday’s summit. The three countries face deadly jihadist violence, and this meeting offers an opportunity for them to strengthen their partnership. Following the summit, the heads of ECOWAS states will gather in Abuja on Sunday to discuss relations with the AES.
This meeting marks the first time the three Sahelian strongmen have gathered since coming to power through coups between 2020 and 2023. In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger agreed on a draft text creating the confederation, which the heads of state are expected to adopt at Saturday’s summit. The two summits this weekend highlight the division in West Africa, with the AES and ECOWAS representing different approaches to regional cooperation and security.
