West Africa: When ECOWAS sends the senegalese president on an impossible mission
The recent summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) saw the establishment of a commission aimed at persuading the countries of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) to rejoin the regional organization. However, this mission appears destined to fail for several reasons deeply rooted in geopolitical dynamics and perceptions of sovereignty.
Member countries of the AES, namely Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have expressed a strong desire to distance themselves from Western influence, which they perceive as pervasive within ECOWAS. They argue that the regional organization often aligns with the interests of former colonial powers, particularly France, as well as the United States.
These countries believe that ECOWAS no longer represents their sovereign interests but rather those of foreign powers, which prompted their initial withdrawal.
The AES, formed in response to regional security and political crises, places a strong emphasis on sovereignty and self-determination. AES governments are convinced that rejoining ECOWAS would limit their ability to implement independent policies tailored to their local needs and aspirations. ECOWAS, seen as an instrument of foreign interference, is therefore incompatible with the absolute sovereignty vision upheld by the AES.
Furthermore, AES countries have developed specific regional strategies to combat terrorism and promote development, often in cooperation with new international alliances such as Russia and China.
These alternative partnerships provide not only material resources but also political support without the restrictive conditions often imposed by traditional Western partnerships. Reintegration into ECOWAS could thus complicate or jeopardize these new strategic alliances.
In this context, the facilitation mission that ECOWAS plans to undertake in the coming days, with the hope of bringing the AES back into the regional organization, appears currently impossible to achieve.
