The 69th summit of ECOWAS is underway in Freetown, Sierra Leone, at a critical juncture for the West African economic bloc. While ECOWAS leaders gather this Sunday, the organization finds itself without three key members: Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, who have chosen to forge their own path within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The future of relations with the AES member states is expected to be a central discussion point, as ECOWAS seeks to rebuild its reputation and collectively address pressing security challenges across the region.

Charting a course without Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso?

Beyond the symbolic implications, West African leaders face the fundamental question of how to redefine ECOWAS’s trajectory following the departure of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now aligned under the Confederation of Sahel States. This represents a significant shift in African current affairs and regional dynamics.

Despite their withdrawal, these three nations remain indispensable neighbors. Therefore, heads of state are anticipated to explore avenues for dialogue to safeguard vital commercial exchanges, ensure the free movement of people, and crucially, maintain security cooperation in the face of a transnational terrorist threat that transcends borders. This is a key aspect of African governance and stability.

Aliou Diakite, an ECOWAS expert, underscores the immense stakes involved. He emphasizes the need to “discuss the future of ECOWAS and the governance and security issues currently confronting the ECOWAS space, given organized crime linked to terrorism, political transitions during elections, climate change, and other challenges like epidemics and pandemics. These are the critical matters prompting heads of state and government to deliberate on ECOWAS’s future in the coming years.”

Standby force still awaiting full operational status

Many issues of significant interest to West African populations are on the agenda, yet some have lingered across successive summits.

A prime example is the ECOWAS Standby Force. Though announced several years ago, this regional force has yet to become fully operational. It is envisioned as a rapid response mechanism against terrorism, political crises, and other threats to regional stability. The preparatory meetings involving ministers and security officials held this week in Freetown signal a renewed commitment from several member states to accelerate its implementation.

Michel Ange Bangoura, Guinea’s representative for cooperation with ECOWAS, notes, “From the perspective of ECOWAS institutions, everything is in order on paper. What remains is securing the necessary resources for its deployment, determining the location for its headquarters, and ensuring each country contributes at least a company of troops.”

When asked about a projected timeline for the force’s establishment, Michel Ange Bangoura responded, “I believe that during the discussions we are currently holding in this session, the deployment of said force in the short term will be addressed. This includes at least the assembly of troops in a country chosen for this purpose.”

The summit is also expected to tackle institutional reforms within ECOWAS and the imperative to restore the organization’s credibility after several years marked by political instability and coups d’état across the region. This focus on African governance is crucial for the continent’s future.