ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah (PhD), says he is optimistic that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — will eventually return to the bloc, stressing that their withdrawal is “only temporary.”
The three military-led governments formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, after serving the required one-year notice. Their departure marked a major shift in regional dynamics, raising concerns about cooperation on security, trade, and governance.
Speaking to WADR on the sidelines of the 2025 West Africa Civil Society Week in Accra, Ambassador Musah rejected claims that ECOWAS had committed any fundamental errors that would justify the exit. He highlighted several reforms already undertaken, alongside ongoing efforts to make the regional body more effective and more responsive to citizens’ needs.
Despite current tensions, he expressed confidence in renewed dialogue and future reconciliation, underscoring that shared history, geography, and interdependence will eventually guide the Sahel states back into the ECOWAS fold.
