Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger's ECOWAS Exit Sparks Crisis

Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, stated that the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resulted in a major regional crisis. This statement was made during a policy colloquium organized by the Ministry of Defence on Thursday in Abuja.

The three countries formally exited ECOWAS in January 2025, following their announcement in 2024, citing the bloc's failure to support them against jihadist insurgencies and its perceived alignment with France. Dare emphasized that this pullout weakened ECOWAS protocols that promote regional integration and the free movement of goods and services, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States, a counter-regional body.

Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), the Minister of Defence, also addressed the colloquium, highlighting the Tinubu administration's focus on national security to protect Nigeria's sovereignty and promote national development.