West Africa's regional blocks, known as Bamako, Mari -Eco Was, are important after three military -led countries have officially quit their groups, form their own alliance, and weaken the status and political authority of the block. I am facing the task.
The withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the block -The 12 countries are currently remaining -the one -year meeting announced in January 2024, aimed at reversing their decisions. It was the culmination of diplomatic efforts.
The departure is the first one in the 50 -year history of blocks, and analyst warns that weaker ECOWA can further impair the vulnerable area.
What is ECOWAS? What does it do?
The blocks of 15 countries, which are widely seen as major political and regional authorities in West Africa, were formed in 1975 to “promote economic integration” between member countries. Block has also cooperated with members to solve domestic issues, from politics to economics and safety.
BLOC guarantees visa -free trips and about 400 million population access to more than $ 700 million.
However, in some West Africa, analysts say Ecowas is suffering from a legitimate crisis, and citizens believe that they are not their leaders, but only the leaders' interests.
Why did three military -led countries have left?
Relationship between Eco Was and the Coup Deter, Niger and Burkina Faso, have begun to exacerbate the army to impose strict sanctions on Niger and reverses the coups they performed.
The block has long been used as an important tool to use sanctions to reverses coup datas, but the one that was imposed on Niger was the harshest so far. Neighbors closed the borders with the country, blocked more than 70 % of Nigail's power supply, pause financial transactions, and freeze the Nigail assets owned by blocks.
The three countries called sanctions “inhuman” and accused Eco Was as “the founder and the ideal of Popular Africanism.”
What has changed after the three countries have left?
After leaving Eco Was, Niger, Mari, and Burkina Faso have created a unique alliance, known as the Sahel alliance, named after the vast southern fringe in the Sahel desert area.
The military relations of the three were cut off by many years of western partners, including the United States and France, and rely on Russia for military support.
ECOWAS tried to relieve tension with AES, reversed the sanctions imposed by the block last February, and tried to renew the AES refusal.
What will happen now?
ECOWAS states that as is the case with other block members, three countries will leave the door open to continue to enjoy welfare, but the three military government -led countries are citizens. We have launched our own travel documents.
The block also states that trade will continue as usual. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are still members of the Economic and Currency Union in West Africa. In other words, trade and free movement of product must be continued among members of eight countries. The currency coalitions include three military -led countries, Senegal, Courtojiboir, Guinea Biso, Togo, and Benin.
Babacar Nydiai, a political analyst of Wati Sink Tank focusing on West Africa, said in July that the six -month extension between ECOWAS and three countries would expire. However, NDIAYE said that AES countries had little expectation to “reconsider their withdrawal.”
There is concern that weakened ECOWAS cannot process the security crisis spreading from the dispute to the west African coastal countries.
Eco Was is rarely in a position to reverse the military acquisition of Mari, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Renaissance Capital's Chief Economist, Charlie Robatson, also said that investment in three countries would be less likely.
