Leaders from West African countries convened on Sunday to address the deepening crisis in the region, marked by military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger since 2020.
Additionally, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau have reported attempted coups in recent weeks.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is increasingly concerned about the risks of conflicts spreading from the Sahel region, exacerbated by a French military withdrawal.
During a meeting before the summit, ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray expressed that these military coups, driven by false justifications, are contributing to insecurity in the region.
The leaders gathered in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for an ordinary summit to discuss the delayed transitions back to civilian rule in the affected countries.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current chair of ECOWAS, presided over the summit, with the participation of US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.
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The discussions focused on supporting Niger’s return to democratic rule and addressing security challenges in the Sahel.
Niger, a key Western partner in the fight against Sahel militants, has requested the withdrawal of French troops, while the US still maintains military personnel in the country.
ECOWAS has imposed economic sanctions on the military regime in Niger, which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July.
The organization demands Bazoum’s immediate return to the presidency, but the military junta has detained him and suggested a potential three-year timeline for a return to civilian rule.
Efforts for a diplomatic resolution, including Nigeria’s proposal to allow Bazoum to leave for a third country, have faced resistance from the military leaders in Niger.
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe has been approached to mediate the situation. ECOWAS has not ruled out military intervention, though the likelihood of such action appears diminished.
Transitions back to democracy and elections have also encountered obstacles in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
The departure of French troops from the region has further complicated the security situation, leading to the formation of an Alliance of Sahel States by military regimes in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Recent coup attempts in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau have added to the regional instability.
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