Four countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened in Nigeria on Tuesday to discuss democratic transitions and security in the region, as stated by the organisation.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who was elected ECOWAS President last Sunday, held talks in Abuja with officials from Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin.
A significant topic on their agenda was the security situation in Mali following the withdrawal of the UN mission (MINUSMA), established in 2013 to counter the terrorist threat.
At the end of June, the UN Security Council terminated the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission at the request of the Malian military junta, which has been critical of Western nations and has strengthened ties with Russia.
Presently, three of the 15 member countries of ECOWAS – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – are under military rule due to a series of military coups (five since 2020).
Simultaneously, groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have expanded their attacks southward into countries located in the Gulf of Guinea from the Sahel region.
To address the security vacuum after the MINUSMA’s departure, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, and Guinea-Bissau established a tripartite commission to explore alternative security solutions, which may involve deploying troops from ECOWAS countries.
Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, on behalf of this task force, is scheduled to visit Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea soon to discuss security and democratic transitions post-coups, revealed Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during a press conference in Abuja.
The four nations that met in Abuja “reiterated their commitment to facilitating swift democratic transitions in these countries,” he added. Concerning security, “they are determined to offer a robust response,” referring to the potential deployment of troops from ECOWAS countries, though no further details were provided.
Last December, ECOWAS countries decided to establish a regional force dedicated to intervening against not only extremism but also in the event of a coup. However, few specifics have emerged regarding its constitution and funding, which still need clarification.
