Africa : When ECOWAS seeks partnership with Russia
In recent years, Russia’s presence in Africa has been interpreted by Western powers as a form of neo-colonialism, akin to replacing one master with another. Even before the announcement of the withdrawal of the Sahel Alliance (AES), ECOWAS has been facing difficulties in resolving crises its member countries are facing. France, through some heads of state, manages to exert its influence to steer certain decisions in its favor, and against certain countries, like Niger.
With the withdrawal of the Sahel Alliance from the community, ECOWAS seems to have realized the importance of collaborating with Russia. In an interview with the Russian media Sputnik regarding the management of crises in these countries, Ali Touré, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized that the sub-regional institution actively seeks partnership opportunities and is open to close collaboration with Russia. He stated, « There are several areas in which ECOWAS cooperates with many partners. I am confident that when we sit down with our Russian friends, we can identify these areas for the benefit of all. We are seeking a partnership that would help us develop and unite ».
Given that France has turned ECOWAS into a French international agency where no decision can be made without its consent, the nature of such collaboration raises questions. Why is ECOWAS seeking to collaborate with Russia? Is it questioning the unsuccessful collaboration with the West, particularly France, over many years ? These are questions that warrant consideration.
It is worth noting that, to counter terrorism, Mali and Burkina Faso decided to diversify their partnerships by turning to Russia, Iran, and Turkey, like many other African countries. At the time, Western media heavily criticized Russia, accusing it of instigating anti-French movements in these countries.
For France, any country formerly under its influence cannot abruptly decide to sever ties without having undergone brainwashing by Russia. It remains to be seen if ECOWAS has also undergone such influence to the extent of seeking to work with other partners.
