Withdrawal of the Alliance for Sahel States from ECOWAS and its Implication for West African Regional Stability and Integration

Abstract

Economic Community of West African States was established in May 28, 1975 through the
Lagos Treaty with fifteen member-states. The aim of the organisation was for promotion of
cooperation and integration. The problem statement of this paper is to conduct a study on
regional integration, how it relates to the establishment of Alliance for Sahel States and the
implications of exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS, the establishment of
Alliance for Sahel States by the three countries as well as the implications of their exit to the
stability and integration of West African region. Besides, in discussing the objectives of this
study, the reasons for the exit, political, economic and social implications of the exit will be
taken into considerations. This paper, however, adopts theoretical framework for establishment
of a regional body, Alliance for Sahel States, using Theory of Regional Cooperation, especially
Neo-functionalism, which discusses processes, success and failure of regional integration among
states. This research work adopts qualitative research methodology using secondary data and
through content analysis. Some of the implications of the exit of these three countries from
ECOWAS on West Africa include: Shrinking of ECOWAS and reduction of its influence within
and outside Africa; undermining legitimacy of Democracy and Governance Protocol of
ECOWAS; Political and economic isolation of the landlocked Alliance for Sahel States from
ECOWAS member-states, causing the three countries to experience escalation of security
challenges, trade and movement restrictions as well as food security challenges, and of course,
impending serious security threats from the Islamic jihadists sweeping across Alliance of Sahel
States to other countries of West Africa. For there to be an enlarged, united and strong ECOWAS
as it were, the leadership of ECOWAS and former Heads of States and Government and notable
statesmen from West African region should maintain steady diplomatic contacts and dialogues
with the military government in Alliance for Sahel States. Besides, the Alliance for Sahel States
should rejoin ECOWAS. To forestall or prevent further military coups, takeovers and exit of
countries from ECOWAS, ECOWAS should ensure credible elections are held, good governance
is put in place, sit tight syndrome by its leaders is discouraged, reinvigoration and deployments of ECOWAS Monitoring Group and ECOWAS Standby Force to hotspots where terrorists and
insurgents attacks are prevalent.