A LANDMARK celebration of West Africa’s leading regional bloc has been overshadowed by a deepening political rift, as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) began a two-day summit in Accra on Tuesday to address the departure of three Sahel nations.
The summit, which coincides with the official launch of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, is focused on the formal exit of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso — all led by military juntas — and the future of regional cooperation in their absence.
In a statement, ECOWAS said discussions would cover the terms of the withdrawal and its impact on the bloc’s institutions operating in those countries. Transitional arrangements and the future of trade, mobility, and diplomatic engagement are also up for review.
‘Key items on the agenda include the modalities of the withdrawal process and the implications for ECOWAS institutions and agencies operating in the three countries,’ the bloc stated. Broader matters of regional security and integration will also be discussed.
The meeting comes three months after the three countries formally announced their withdrawal, citing disagreements with ECOWAS over sanctions and political transitions. Now aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the trio has signalled its intent to operate outside ECOWAS frameworks, further straining relations.
Earlier this month, the AES imposed a 0.5 percent import levy on goods from ECOWAS states, exempting only humanitarian aid. The move — seen as a counter to ECOWAS’s free trade policy — is intended to raise funds for AES operations but has deepened the region’s economic fault lines.
Addressing the summit, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa welcomed delegates on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and struck a hopeful yet candid tone. He described the anniversary as both a celebration and a call to action, noting the dual significance of unity and reform.
‘Today we gather not only as representatives of our nations but as proud custodians of a shared history and regional identity,’ Ablakwa said, hailing ECOWAS’s transformation from a modest trade bloc into a champion of peace, democracy, and integration.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the recent withdrawals but urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to the bloc’s founding ideals. ‘The next chapter of ECOWAS must build on past gains while boldly embracing the future,’ he said.
Ablakwa also addressed concerns about the cost of the celebrations, clarifying that funding for the 50th anniversary events and the ministerial summit had been jointly financed by ECOWAS member states, not solely by Ghana.
The gathering in Accra kicks off a year-long series of commemorative activities across the region. Yet, the celebratory atmosphere has been noticeably muted by the departure of three of ECOWAS’s founding members — a symbolic and strategic blow to the bloc at a critical moment.
Leaders are expected to propose mechanisms for continued dialogue with the Sahel countries and reassess how to preserve regional cohesion in the face of geopolitical realignment.
For ECOWAS, the 50th anniversary is not just a milestone but a test of resilience. Whether the bloc can chart a path forward amid rising disunity may determine the fate of West African integration for the next generation.
