The 69th summit of ECOWAS leaders is currently underway in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking a pivotal moment for the Economic Community of West African States. As the ECOWAS summit convenes this Sunday, it does so with a notable void, as three key member states – Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso – have chosen to pursue an independent path within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The crucial issue of their departure is expected to dominate discussions, as the regional bloc seeks to revitalize its image and address pressing security challenges across West Africa.

A future for ECOWAS without Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso?

Beyond the symbolic implications, West African leaders face the fundamental task of redefining ECOWAS’s trajectory following the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now unified under the Confédération des États du Sahel. This crucial discussion will shape the future of regional cooperation and integration.

Despite their exit from the organization, these three nations remain indispensable neighbors. Consequently, heads of state are anticipated to explore avenues for dialogue to safeguard vital commercial exchanges, ensure the free movement of people, and, critically, enhance security cooperation against a persistent terrorist threat that transcends national borders. This is a significant aspect of current Mali security news and Niger’s challenges.

According to Aliou Diakite, a prominent ECOWAS expert, the stakes are exceptionally high. He emphasizes the necessity to “discuss the future of ECOWAS and the governance and security challenges currently facing the ECOWAS region, given the organized crime linked to terrorism, political shifts during elections, climate change, and other factors like epidemics and pandemics. These are the issues compelling heads of state and government to deliberate on ECOWAS’s future in the coming years.”

ECOWAS standby force: still not operational

Many topics of interest to West African populations are on the agenda, yet some have lingered from one summit to the next.

A prime example is the ECOWAS Standby Force. Despite being announced years ago, this regional force has yet to become fully operational. It is envisioned as a rapid response mechanism against terrorism, political crises, and threats to regional stability.

The preparatory meetings involving ministers and security officials held in Freetown this week underscore the commitment of several member states to accelerate its implementation.

Michel Ange Bangoura, Guinea’s representative for cooperation with ECOWAS, states: “On the institutional front for ECOWAS, everything is in order on paper. What remains is to secure the necessary resources for its deployment, establish its headquarters, or ensure that each country contributes at least one company.”

When asked about a projected date for the force’s establishment, Michel Ange Bangoura responded: “I believe that during the ongoing discussions in this session, the deployment of said force in the short term will be addressed. Even if it’s just the assembly in a chosen country for that purpose.”

The summit is also expected to tackle institutional reforms within ECOWAS and the imperative to restore the organization’s credibility following several years marked by political crises and coups d’état across the region. This is vital for regional stability and the future of West Africa.