The military governments of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have announced their withdrawal from the West African Economic Community ECOWAS. According to the Catholic development cooperation organisation Misereor, this decision weakens the region. It is also increasingly dividing the African continent and paving the way for rivalries between foreign powers on African soil. Misereor is calling for the crisis triggered by the announcement to be resolved through dialogue, negotiations and cooperation. It should be used to reorganise relations with the countries of the Western world.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was founded in 1975 with the aim of promoting economic co-operation in West Africa. The community has developed into a driving force for economic and political integration in the region. It is increasingly taking on an active role as a peace and security actor.

Misereor regional advisor Raoul Bagopha fears that the departure of the three countries mentioned from the ECOWAS alliance will jeopardise the process of regional integration. This is intended to strengthen economic and political relations as well as cultural and social ties between the West African countries. According to Misereor, if the withdrawal were to come into force immediately, this would have consequences for the whole of West Africa. "Tensions between neighbouring states whose essential interests are closely linked will resurface. The necessary solidarity between states in the fight against terrorist groups will be further undermined to the detriment of the civilian population. Important freedoms to which the population had become accustomed despite all the shortcomings, such as the free movement of goods and people, are under threat," warns Bagopha.

Distrust of Western countries

"The withdrawal is also seen as a turning away from the Western world. The three countries are increasingly distrustful of European countries and are distancing themselves from former colonial powers such as France. In contrast, they are strengthening relations with Russia, which is skilfully exploiting the mistakes and weaknesses of the West," says Bagopha. According to the Misereor expert, the military governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger accuse Western countries of not wanting to give up the colonial logic and of using ECOWAS to maintain and expand their influence in the region. They suspected that Western powers were behind the tough sanctions that ECOWAS imposed on their countries after coups d'état. The sanctions followed in particular after the coups in Mali in 2020 and Niger in 2023.

Crisis in West Africa as a new beginning

"Although the crisis triggered by the announced withdrawal is primarily a regional and African issue, it also highlights the urgency of reshaping relations between Africa and the Western world," concludes Bagopha. The reshaping must be based on the rejection of colonial mentalities and must not instrumentalise colonial wounds. To this end, Bagopha proposes principles that can improve relations between African countries and between Africa and the West:

• Rely more on dialogue and persuasion than sanctions and coercion in conflicts.
• Involve civil society forces in crisis management.
• Avoid double standards when demanding respect for human rights and democracy.