Geopolitics of Sahel coups: doubts linger about ECOWAS’ quest for reconciliation

Despite the recent decision by the ECOWAS to lift its sanctions imposed on Niger, the stalemate between the regional bloc and the three coup-hit Sahelian countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger lingers on.

Observers and analysts have pondered if the relations between the three junta-ruled countries and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could be repaired and rebuilt following recent efforts by the latter for reconciliation. The communique that emerged out of the recent high-level ECOWAS summit held in Abuja suggests that the regional grouping has extended a hand of friendship to the revolutionary regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, forgiving their sins of removing democratically elected proxies of France from power, with the overarching aim to keep the regional integration dream alive. The ECOWAS heads of state even urged the three countries to “reconsider their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS, given the benefits that all ECOWAS Member States and their citizens enjoy for being part of the Community.”

While some experts expressed their belief that it is a worthwhile endeavor to try to lure the junta regimes back to the ECOWAS fold, according to Ademola Araoye, former director of Abuja Leadership Center, “by this generosity borne out of desperation, the organization sought to cover its shame.” In a recent commentary, he also slammed ECOWAS leaders for “claiming they were protecting democracy in the sub-region without undertaking any meaningful investigations into the nature of the challenges that events in the Sahel posed.”

In this context, Araoye denounces ECOWAS’ effort to maintain the status-quo in the region at any cost, seeing the grouping as returning “to eat its vomit in its latest scampering to protect its integrity as a truly pan-regional body.”