The recent decision by the government of Burkina Faso to launch its new generation biometric passport without the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) logo on 3 September 2024 could mark an irreversibility of the decision by the governments of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali in January 2024 to formally withdraw their membership from ECOWAS, in favour of the new Alliance of Sahel States (ESA).
The unveiling of the new passport produced by the Chinese biometric company Emptech was followed by an announcement by Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, on 15 September 2024 that the three countries will soon unveil a new biometric passport for the ESA. However, the proven benefits of multilateral development require that every effort be made to preserve multilateral institutions such as ECOWAS, particularly in developing countries. Given the urgency of the situation, the possibility of reunifying ECOWAS could present a possible ray of sunshine if former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria work closely together.
How did ECOWAS, one of the best Regional Economic Communities (RECs) recognized by the African Union, arrive at this undesirable situation where some members have formally indicated their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS by January 2025?
Parts of Africa have experienced military coups in recent years, including Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali. Guinea is mentioned because Obasanjo visited the country shortly after the 2021 coup and concluded that the usual sanctions against military regimes introduced in the early 2000s would not be effective. He had interacted with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who had also deplored a similar trend in the Republic of Chad, his home country.
The military coup in Niger on 26 July 2023 appears to have prompted ECOWAS to step up its response. With Tinubu barely two months into his term as President of Nigeria, ECOWAS took a rather unfortunate strategic decision to impose pressing sanctions, including threats of military intervention against Niger. This took place during its Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on the Political Situation in Niger on 30 July 2023, chaired by President Tinubu.
The new military regime in Niger, along with its French-speaking counterparts in Burkina Faso and Mali, responded vigorously to sanctions pressure by creating the AES in September 2023 as a formal mutual defense pact, moving on to discussions on a confederation of their foreign ministers on December 1, 2023, and then to their decision to leave ECOWAS.. On 28 January 2024, the ESA countries issued a joint statement of withdrawal from ECOWAS, which included four major grievances against the multilateral organisation.
These grievances include the departure from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism due to foreign influence; the failure to support ESA countries in their existential struggle against terrorism and insecurity; the imposition of illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own texts; and the use of sanctions to further weaken populations already scarred by years of violence. In essence, the sanctions taken by ECOWAS at its extraordinary summit on 30 July 2023 have become counterproductive to multilateralism.
In view of what the AES means to the sustainability and strength of ECOWAS, the regional organization has decided to change course and explore cooperative diplomacy to resolve the impasse. Despite this, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at its 65th Ordinary Session on 7 July 2024 in Abuja under the chairmanship of President Tinubu, expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in its engagements with the AES countries. The Authority also designated President Bassirou Faye of Senegal as the ECOWAS Facilitator in its engagements with the AES, in collaboration with President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo; while welcoming the offer of President Umaro Embaló of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to support the engagement, particularly with Burkina Faso.
Although the ESA countries have started producing new biometric passports without the ECOWAS logo, several months after these official mediation efforts, it can be tentatively concluded that the current ECOWAS mediation attempts have not been very effective, hence the need for a revised approach, given the urgency of a few weeks remaining to unify ECOWAS.
So, how could the collaboration between Obasanjo and Tinubu be a chance to reunify ECOWAS?
First, an analysis of the relationship between the two men, followed by an assessment of Obasanjo’s suitability for the difficult task. On the face of it, the evidence shows that Obasanjo and Tinubu do not have the best personal relationship. Obasanjo’s support for Mr. Peter Obi in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election is a case in point.
In sum, the current situation between ECOWAS and the AES underscores the critical importance of diplomacy, mediation and cooperation in resolving disputes and restoring trust among neighbouring nations. It is imperative that concerted efforts be made to find mutually acceptable solutions that will strengthen regional integration and stability in West Africa.