ECOWAS MOVES TO PULL OUT OF MALI, NIGER, BURKINA FASO AFTER THEIR EXIT FROM REGIONAL BLOC
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun planning the relocation of its institutions from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after the military-led governments of the three Sahelian countries formally withdrew from the bloc. An extraordinary session held in Accra, Ghana on Wednesday focused on logistics, regional program suspensions, and mitigation plans for ongoing operations affected by the pullout.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, chaired the meeting and urged member states to remain unified despite the difficult circumstances. “This session is not one we had hoped for,” he said. “But we must now adapt and chart a forward-looking path.”
The council will now draft a framework for disengagement and relocation, particularly for institutions focused on security, economic integration, and mobility. Memoranda outlining specific relocation plans are expected soon. Despite the setback, Tuggar reiterated ECOWAS’s commitment to regional integration, saying the bloc had overcome past crises and would emerge stronger once again.
