Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Exit Weakened West African Integration — Tinubu’s Aide

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has described the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a major setback to regional integration and cooperation in West Africa.

Dare made the statement on Thursday at a policy colloquium organised by the Ministry of Defence in Abuja, where he spoke on regional security, cooperation and the challenges confronting West Africa.

According to him, the decision by the three countries to leave ECOWAS weakened important regional protocols that had been established to promote economic integration, cooperation and the free movement of people, goods and services among member states.

Dare said the development created a significant rupture within the regional bloc and affected existing mechanisms for addressing common political, economic and security challenges.

He stated, “The rupture that came in 2025 when the countries pulled out of ECOWAS created a major regional crisis.

That pullout from ECOWAS simply blunted the ECOWAS protocol that promoted integration and the free movement of goods and services.”

The presidential aide further noted that the withdrawal contributed to the emergence of a separate regional alliance involving the three countries, thereby creating another layer of complexity for regional cooperation.

He explained that the Alliance of Sahel States, also known as the Confederation of Sahel States, was subsequently established by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as an alternative framework for political, economic and security cooperation.

Dare added that the emergence of the new bloc had also challenged some of the existing regional instruments and protocols designed to facilitate cooperation among West African countries.

The three military-led governments formally withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025, several months after announcing their intention to leave the organisation in 2024.

The countries had accused ECOWAS of failing to provide adequate support in their fight against jihadist insurgencies and criticised what they regarded as the regional bloc’s close relationship with France, their former colonial power.

Their departure has continued to raise concerns over the future of regional integration, cross-border trade, collective security arrangements and diplomatic relations within West Africa.

The development has also presented ECOWAS with the challenge of maintaining effective regional cooperation while addressing security threats and political differences involving member and former member states.

Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was giving priority to national security as part of its broader efforts to protect the country and promote development.

Musa said strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture remained essential to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, protecting democratic institutions and creating the conditions necessary for sustainable economic and social development.

He stressed the importance of maintaining strong security institutions capable of responding effectively to emerging threats while supporting the stability and unity of the country.

The policy colloquium brought together stakeholders to discuss issues relating to national and regional security, with emphasis on strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s security and improving cooperation in the face of evolving threats across West Africa.

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