The 69th summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is underway in Freetown, Sierra Leone, marking a critical juncture for the regional bloc. As ECOWAS leaders gather this Sunday, the organization finds itself diminished, with the key nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso now operating independently within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The significant departure of these members is expected to dominate discussions, as ECOWAS seeks to revitalize its reputation and address pressing security challenges across the sub-region.

Charting a future for ECOWAS without Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso

Beyond the symbolic implications, West African leaders face a fundamental question: how will ECOWAS redefine its trajectory following the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, now aligned under the Confederation of Sahel States?

Despite their departure, these three nations remain indispensable neighbors. Consequently, the heads of state are anticipated to explore avenues for continued dialogue, aiming to safeguard vital commercial exchanges, ensure the free movement of people, and crucially, maintain security cooperation against a cross-border terrorist threat.

According to Aliou Diakite, a prominent ECOWAS expert, the stakes are exceptionally high. He emphasizes the necessity to “deliberate on the future of ECOWAS and the pressing governance and security challenges currently confronting the ECOWAS region.” These include organized crime linked to terrorism, political transitions following elections, climate change, and the ongoing threats of epidemics and pandemics. These critical issues, Diakite asserts, are what compel heads of state and government to convene and shape the future direction of ECOWAS in the coming years.

ECOWAS Standby Force: still awaiting full operational status

While many topics of significant concern to West African populations are on the agenda, some perennial issues continue to be deferred from one summit to the next.

A prime example is the ECOWAS Standby Force. Despite being announced years ago, this regional force remains far from fully operational. It is envisioned as a crucial rapid-response mechanism to counter terrorism, political upheavals, and various threats to regional stability.

Preparatory meetings involving ministers and security officials held this week in Freetown underscore the strong commitment from several member states to expedite the force’s deployment.

Michel Ange Bangoura, a Guinean official responsible for cooperation with ECOWAS, states that “on paper, all institutional aspects for the ECOWAS Standby Force are in order.” He adds, “The remaining challenge is securing the necessary resources for its deployment, establishing a headquarters, and ensuring that each member country contributes at least a company-sized contingent.”

When pressed about a projected timeline for the force’s establishment, Michel Ange Bangoura indicated, “I believe that during the ongoing discussions at this session, the deployment of this force in the short term will be a key topic. This would involve, at minimum, its assembly in a designated host country.”

Furthermore, the summit is expected to tackle crucial institutional reforms within ECOWAS, emphasizing the urgent need to restore the organization’s credibility following several years marked by political crises and coups d’état across the region.