ABUJA: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said on Sunday (Jul 7) the region risked disintegration and worsening insecurity after junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger made clear their intentions to leave the bloc by signing a confederation treaty.
The Alliance of Sahel States treaty, signed on Saturday, underscored the three countries’ determination to turn their backs on the 15-member ECOWAS, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.
ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray said freedom of movement and a common market of 400 million people were some of the major benefits of the near 50-year-old bloc, but that these were under threat if the three countries left.
Funding of economic projects worth over $500 million in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger could also be stopped or suspended, Touray told an ECOWAS summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
“Considering these benefits, it is evident that disintegration will not only disrupt the freedom of movement and settlement of people, but it will also worsen insecurity in the region,” he said.
The three countries’ withdrawal will be a major blow to security cooperation particularly in terms of intelligence sharing and participation in the fight against terrorism, he added.
ECOWAS leaders gathered at the summit to discuss the implications of the treaty by the Alliance of Sahel States, whose juntas seized control in a series of coups in the three states in 2020-2023 and severed military and diplomatic ties with regional allies and Western powers.
A decision on a regional standby force to fight terrorism and a regional currency would also be made, Touray said.
WhatsApp Community
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
American Returnee And His Gang Members K!ll Uber Rider In Lagos
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas CP Ishola mentioned that two other fleeing suspects were arrested in the Chevron area of the state. David Segun, a 21-year-old US returnee, and two others, have been arrested by the police in Lagos state. They were arrested for allegedly k!lling an Uber driver in the Obalende area of Lagos state on…
Stampede: Oyo files murder charges against Ooni’s ex-Queen, others
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The Oyo State Government has filed eight counts, bordering on murder and manslaughter against the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio station, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdulahi Fasasi, over the December 18, 2024 funfair stampede, during which…
SERAP sues FG, govs for alleged abuse of Cybercrimes Act
By Silver Nwokoro MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Federal Government and state governors at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice sitting in Abuja over alleged repressive use of Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalise legitimate expressions and violate human rights of Nigerians, including…
