The ECOWAS Council of Ministers held an Emergency Meeting in Accra to discuss backup strategies after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally announced their departure from the organization.
The Special Session was convened based on instructions issued by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at their 66th Regular Meeting. They directed the Council to establish procedures and an emergency strategy for the withdrawal of the three countries located in the Sahel region.
During his introductory speech, the Chairman of the Council, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, highlighted that this assembly underscores ECOWAS’s steadfast dedication to progressing the regional community and achieving ECOWAS’s primary objective.
As he continued his speech, Tuggar expressed gratitude from the member states toward the government and citizens of Ghana for their warm welcome and for hosting this crucial meeting.
He similarly applauded Ghana and the ECOWAS Commission for successfully launching the “ECOWAS at 50” festivities, calling these celebratory events an opportune moment to reflect upon the accomplishments and ambitions of the organization.
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The ECOWAS Commission is anticipated to submit documents outlining the procedures for withdrawal, halting of programs in the impacted nations, along with issues concerning the unrestricted movement of individuals, commodities, and services.
Furthermore, the Council will consider the possible relocation of ECOWAS organizations and entities presently situated in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, aiming to minimize any disturbances arising from their departure.
In a somber tone, the Chair recognized that the meeting represented a challenging period in ECOWAS’s history.
It was not our intention to discuss the departure of member states,” he stated. “However, acknowledging the autonomy of these countries under their present military administrations compels us to adjust and forge a progressive way ahead.
Even though the circumstances were serious, the Tuggar encouraged officials to see the crisis as a chance for rebuilding institutions and reaffirming their dedication to regional unification.
He highlighted that ECOWAS stands as the most integrated regional group in Africa, supported by unified policies and a common objective for political, economic, and security collaboration.
“As we look forward, our duty is to uphold the ECOWAS legacy and hand it down even more robustly to the coming generation. We have faced tests of our unity before—and come out stronger. We shall do so once again,” he asserted.
The Chair urged his fellow members to participate in productive discussions and guarantee the successful execution of the exit strategy. He emphasized that ECOWAS continues to be the primary forum for tackling shared issues in West Africa, highlighting that being part of this group comes with certain advantages, as they say.
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