Withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger: ECOWAS could suspend funded projects

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened to stop financing its projects in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger due to these countries’ exit from the regional bloc.

ECOWAS Commission President Aliou Omar Touray, speaking at the 65th ordinary session of the body of Heads of State and Government, said their withdrawal could lead to the suspension of community-financed projects in these countries and affect economic and financial cooperation, including investments by regional financial institutions.

Touray further added that withdrawal would result in the closure of ECOWAS regional structures in these countries and would affect the job security of ECOWAS personnel from these states.

Touray further explained that the half-yearly report will also cover the extensive work in other sectors such as agriculture and environment, education and culture, as well as mining and energy, especially renewable energy.

“Although the report will be presented in a closed session, its contents will be made available to the public so that they can see that ECOWAS is not just about conflict, elections and coups.

“We will continue to work with our brothers and sisters in the media to communicate more about these areas.

“Since your last regular meeting here in Abuja, a number of important developments have taken place in the region.

“We have witnessed a significant change of power in the Republic of Senegal. There were also peaceful elections in Togo. I congratulate both countries and assure them of the Commission’s continued cooperation.”

“In Sierra Leone, an agreement on national unity signed by the parties received a major boost recently during an ECOWAS, UN and African Union verification mission. We welcome the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio and his role in the series of talks that led to the resolution of various issues.

“The elections that have taken place so far this year and those last year here in Nigeria, in Guinea-Bissau, in Sierra Leone and Liberia show that democracy is alive and well in our sub-region despite all adversities.

“We look forward to consolidating this trend in the region as we prepare for the important elections in Ghana later this year.

“When we remember these positive developments, it is by no means an exercise in self-glorification. Rather, it is a recognition of the progress we have made as a community.”

“However, the significance of these events and developments is overshadowed by the complex challenges facing our region.

“Our region continues to face numerous interconnected threats, including existential ones. These include climate and man-made crises leading to terrorism, violent extremism and food insecurity.

“Livelihoods continue to be threatened by the illegal and unsustainable exploitation of our land, forest and marine resources. Governance deficits and marginalisation have strained social contracts and given rise to bitter rivalries and unhealthy competition.

“To further complicate the situation, our region has become a site of geostrategic and geopolitical rivalries and a site of misinformation and disinformation that fuels mistrust between and within communities and undermines social cohesion.”

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