Scores of people took to the streets in Niger and Burkina Faso on Tuesday to rally in support of their countries’ withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is set to take effect on Wednesday.
The imminent departure of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from ECOWAS has deepened divisions within the regional bloc, raising concerns about its future.
The three military-led governments had formally notified ECOWAS in January 2024 of their immediate exit, citing what they described as the organization’s excessive reliance on France.
France has become a common adversary for the three juntas, which now favor alliances with Russia, Turkey, and Iran. However, ECOWAS mandates a one-year notice period for withdrawal, a deadline that expires on Wednesday.
In response, the three Sahel nations have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a new confederation aimed at fostering regional cooperation.
In Niger, thousands of demonstrators, including members of the ruling military regime, gathered in the capital, Niamey. Protesters marched from a central square toward the National Assembly, chanting slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron and regional leaders such as those of Benin, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast.
“On January 28, 2024, we announced our exit from ECOWAS with immediate effect. Many thought it was a joke, that we were going to go back on our decision. This is ending today, there is nothing left between ECOWAS and us,” declared Ibro Amadou Bacharou, private chief of staff to Niger’s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani.
Similar scenes played out in Burkina Faso, where large crowds, including Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo and other government officials, gathered at Nation Square in the capital, Ouagadougou.
Banners at the protest read, “Long live AES, down with ECOWAS,” and “Goodbye hand-tied ECOWAS, long live free AES.” Some demonstrators waved the flags of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as Russia’s.
“To cut the cord of imperialism… this will not be done by the tender hands of a midwife, but by an axe,” Ouedraogo stated.
Rallies were also anticipated in Mali as the three countries prepared to cement their new alliance.
As part of their break from the regional bloc, the AES nations are set to unveil a common passport on Wednesday. Additionally, they have announced the formation of a 5,000-strong joint military force aimed at combating jihadist threats in the region.
With their official withdrawal from ECOWAS, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are charting a new course under AES, reinforcing their stance against external influences and strengthening regional ties on their own terms.
