Hommam Al Nassim 
In a remarkable development on the political and economic scene in West Africa, three countries, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), justifying their decision to impose sanctions, which it described as “inhumane” after the military coups witnessed by the three countries, and the decision was announced through a joint statement from the ruling military councils in these countries, and expressed these countries’ rejection of external interference and sanctions that they consider a violation of their sovereignty and their right to self-determination.
ECOWAS’s response to the statement was not delayed, as it confirmed that it had not received any official letter regarding the withdrawal, noting that these countries are important members of the group of 15 countries, and clarifying that the withdrawal process must be carried out in accordance with the treaties governing the membership of countries in the organization, including formal notification in writing of the intention to withdraw within one year, with the need to comply with membership obligations during that period.
The step taken by the three countries reflects the complexity of relations within the regional organization, and shows the geopolitical conflict between Russian and Western influence, especially French, in the Sahel region, as the withdrawal is an indication of the escalation of the international influence struggle and its negative impact on trade and security cooperation between the countries of the region, at a time when these regions are witnessing an increase in terrorist operations and security instability.
The decision to withdraw also comes in light of increasing tensions between ECOWAS and the three countries after the military seized power in those countries between 2020 and 2023, as the new authorities in those countries considered that this organization failed to provide support to them to face security challenges and terrorism, which prompted them to search for new partnerships, especially with Russia, which began to play an increasingly important role in the region, but this change within ECOWAS raised a number of questions about the future of regional cooperation in the region. West Africa, which was an indicator of the reconfiguration of political and security alliances in the region, its economic and security repercussions could affect West Africa in general, and affect the overall relations in that region, especially with the increase in terrorist activities and armed groups.
The main aspect of the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS is related to geopolitical and security tensions in the Sahel region, as it goes beyond the African situation to the level of the international system whose conflicts have erupted in more than one region, which threatens the relationship within regional organizations in general, which has emerged on a political base interconnected with alliances of countries and their links with major capitals in the world, as the Sahel in West Africa faced security challenges represented by extremist groups and ethnic conflicts, by forming regional groups to compensate for the weakness of the structures of The state, internal conflicts, and ECOWAS sanctions against the three withdrawing countries show the international effects on the nature of relations within this organization, and provide contradictory standards in its actions compared to its treatment of countries such as Chad, which is also ruled by a military regime.
On the other side of the withdrawal process, there is an international scene interconnected with what is happening on the west coast of Africa, and if underground wealth is known in the struggle for international influence within the African continent in general, the changes in the global energy market and the movement of international trade after the division as a result of the Ukrainian war, created a new intersection of the interests of the major powers within the Sahel countries, as international competition intensifies to close markets or sources of production to the largest economies in the world such as China, and at the same time the provision of alliances New at the African level is a new conflict that the African continent has been accustomed to since the Cold War stage, as the ECOWAS model is no longer the most effective, although the countries that have withdrawn will face serious economic difficulties on the movement of production and the labor market, which is now closed to the three countries.
During the past two decades, the West Coast has been a European and French sphere of influence in particular, but competition due to international division will again create mobile hotbeds of conflict within the Sahel countries already burdened by conflicts, but at the same time it is a test of African relations and their ability to achieve a balance of interests and flexible alliance models.
Written by Nidal Al-Khedary
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