(Abuja) A summit of West African leaders opened Sunday in Abuja amid tense political tensions following the decision by military regimes in Niger, Mali and Burkina to unite in a “confederation”.
The three countries announced the formation of the confederation on Saturday. Their first summit, held as a challenge on the eve of that of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), puts the latter to the test once again, after Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger decided earlier this year to leave the organisation.
ECOWAS also faces persistent jihadist violence, funding problems and difficulties in assembling a regional force.
The weakened West African bloc has yet to react after Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso adopted a treaty establishing a “Confederation of Sahel States” on Saturday in Niamey.
But ECOWAS Commission chief Omar Alieu Touray warned on Sunday that the three countries risked “diplomatic and political isolation” and the loss of millions of euros in investments. Their nationals could also need visas to travel to the region, he said, without specifying when the measure might take effect.
The rupture will also worsen regional insecurity and hamper the establishment of a regional force, Mr Touray added before ECOWAS held a closed-door session in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
“Apart from the many threats to peace and security and the challenges of poverty, our region is also facing the risks of disintegration,” he warned.
“Foreign powers”
The current military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso came to power through coups in recent years and announced in January their joint departure from ECOWAS.
The three countries broke with France, the former colonial power, sending out French troops stationed in their countries.
Niger’s leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, called on Saturday for the construction of “a community far removed from the control of foreign powers.”
He also said the people of the three countries had “irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS”, rejecting calls from the bloc to fall into line.
PHOTO KOLA SULAIMON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Niger’s empty seat at ECOWAS summit
The Sahel countries’ withdrawal from ECOWAS was fueled in part by their accusations that Paris was manipulating the regional organization and not providing sufficient support for anti-jihadist efforts.
Sunday’s summit in Abuja comes after several West African presidents called for the resumption of dialogue.
It is the first such meeting for Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who said in May that reconciliation was possible.
Ties between Niger and ECOWAS deteriorated following the July 2023 coup that brought Mr Tiani to power. ECOWAS then imposed sanctions and threatened military intervention to reinstate the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Sanctions were lifted in February, but relations remain frosty.
Military force
On the eve of the ECOWAS summit, defence and finance ministers of member countries discussed the financing of a “regional force to combat terrorism and restore constitutional order”, long proposed by the ECOWAS Commission.
The plan called for an initial unit of 1,500 men, and one proposal was to eventually build a brigade of 5,000 soldiers, at a cost of about $2.6 billion a year.
ECOWAS has launched military interventions in the past, but its threat to do so after the Niger coup has faded.
As the bloc faces regional challenges, Omar Alieu Touray warned that its “financial situation is dwindling.”
There were also reports of disagreement over the possible reappointment of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ECOWAS chairman.
A communications adviser to Nigerian President Bayo Onanuga told AFP that “while some countries want him to stay because the region has been facing a crisis, the French-speaking countries want the seat.”
Some French-speaking countries were due to send their foreign ministers to Sunday’s summit instead of their leaders.
Benin’s foreign minister told AFP that President Patrice Talon would not be present “for scheduling reasons” and denied any dispute, saying Mr Talon supported Mr Tinubu’s reappointment.