The extraordinary summit of heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States which will be held in Abuja, Nigeria next Saturday, February 24, raises many questions and expectations. The meeting will be an opportunity for regional leaders to closely examine the political and security situation in West Africa, particularly after the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of States Sahel (AES) last September.
One of the key points of this meeting will be to assess the consequences of the departure of these three countries and to decide on the measures to be taken to maintain cohesion within ECOWAS. Discussions could also focus on sanctions taken against Niger, with calls for their possible lifting from some heads of state.
Furthermore, the political crisis in Senegal could also be addressed during this summit, highlighting the diversity of political and security issues facing the region.
This summit therefore constitutes a crucial opportunity for ECOWAS to reaffirm its unity and its capacity to meet the common challenges facing its members. It will be interesting to follow the discussions and decisions taken during this regional meeting, and to analyze their impact on the stability and development of West Africa.