Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as his rotating president led the economic community of the West African states (Ecowas) for less than two years. But, in that short period, the main political and economic body in the region saw some of the biggest challenges in its history.
With terrorist attacks and other security concerns, the Ecowas’s ability has been further reduced to respond to the danger after the Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger exit under the leadership of their respective military rulers. Tinubu accepted the same in his speech at the Ecowas summit in the weekend in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
The President expressed concern about the process of stopping an extended Ecowas standby force, composed of military, civil and policy components. The force was conceived in 2024 following the departure of the three Sahel countries.
“The Ecowas Standby Force should move from the concept to the operational reality. I am slightly worried by the slow pace of IT activation, which is taking more than the desired,” Tinu said, “Tinu said, highlighted the need for a ready -made force to combat other forms of organized crime in West Africa.
‘A full fragmented area’
While it is believed that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger would finally return to the family, “Tinubu highlights the fact that he” encouraged all diplomatic measures to engage and communicate with our brothers during his tenure. “However, the three countries have rejected any suggestion of re -joining Guna.
Beverly Ocheng, a senior associate of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, says that in view of several wells in West Africa, “You now have a fully frozen area.”
“So you have three countries that have gone out of the block originally;
Opposition to coalitions working together
To add an insult to injury, the alliance of Sahel states by three hypocrites in 2023 openly defines the established authority of the BLOC in the region for the last 50 years, and has been used as an example to underline Tinbu’s allegations, which show a lot during their equel.
Referring to Tinubu’s hardball approach, Oching says, “The rhetoric in response to the military couples may have misunderstood the bee in the sense of ensuring open dialogue and cooperation.”
Perhaps now as a gentle sign of coordination – or a final indication of defeat – Ecovas last week announced its summit in Abuja, which reached an agreement with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s military jute to work together in his fight against terrorism in the entire region.
However, according to Ocheng, the step is mainly based on “a feeling by Ecowas that they will eventually find a way to work with issues that affect Sahel will eventually have an impact on Ecowas.”
The agreement further states that the member of the two coalitions wants to maintain the principle of freedom of goods and individuals between the states.
A new president with Democratic Vision
In the thesis conditions, Julius female bio, the new president of the Ecowas, has clearly worked for her and also knows, because the unity of the block and actually many are facing many dangers of the entry sector.
In his initial commentary as the chairman of Ecowas, Bio Himafeld said that “democratic places in some parts of our region are under stress. In a country, constitutional order has been disrupted,” in recent years, “Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea refer to no uncertain duration for military acquisition.
DW’s Ben Shemung, who reported from the Ecovas summit in Abuja last week, said that Bio had promised to prioritize democracy, security cooperation, economic integration and institutional religion of ECOVAS during his tenure.
“Many people are expecting a term that will not only strengthen security within the regional block, but to ensure unity,” Shemung explained.
Rising crime and unrest
But at the same time, in addition to the broader erosion of civil rule and the spread of Islamic danger in West Africa, new issues are submitted on the desk of the new leader:
Organized crime in West Africa is increasing against the backdrop of both political and economic instability, and it often affects several national boundaries where insurance that mixes with criminals resulted in increasing disturbance as a result of insurance.
The kidnapping for ransom, a spike in misuse of recurrence drugs and an increase in illegal mining exercises highlights people’s growth of people in an area with overall population of 425 million people. If Ecowas was a country with all its current, as well as former member states, it would be the third most populous state in the world after India China.
“Ecowas and some departments will talk about the levels of crime, they will talk about issues affecting criminality. But when it comes to implementing measures to combat some of them slow and bureaucracy,” says Ocheng.
Bloc’s counter, Meuhhile, received a fresh cash injection from the European Union last week of € 110 million ($ 126 million) – it is still far from the estimated cost of € 2.26 billion, which is essential for the activeness of Tinubu’s Standby Force – Outgoing Ecowas Chairman Tinubu.
Increased dissatisfaction and threat to further fragmentation
Meanwhile, the foundation of the coalition of the Sahel States (AES) has explained the functions of many countries as an over-reaction to the leaders as well as the work of three countries, interpreting the functions of three countries, interpreting the functions of three countries.
In a recent survey in Togo, independent, PAN-African Research Network was conducted by Afrabometer that 64% Togoles Response found that AES is “somewhat” or “very” or “very” and 54% of Togole country benefits are benefited by leaving Ecovas which are included in the alliance of Sahel states.
Meanwhile, the guinea, which is under military for four years, is no longer combined, is suspended from the Ecovas in a delicate balance act, if there is further discord, lead from the West African Nation of Distance of the Block.
Hard fight for both ecowas and aes
Search trends can be interpreted as evidence of the vanning effect of designer colonial powers, but therefore reflect the fact that bodies such as ecowas have little impact on daily life, because volatility and unprotected United Nations continue to affect millions.
“Wisely, there is a feeling that [ECOWAS] Not fit for purpose in the context of being able to address the current political pressures, and in doing, is able to address issues that tonnes ignore the economic and citizen, “Ocheng told DW and even AES itself is a very reactionary institution.”
“Perhaps AES can move in a direction that people feel that it is commendable, it is very purposeful, it’s a very drive, but it’s on a very delicate foundation. These are military leadership. They have widespread unrest and instability that they are trying to establish this institution,” he said.
The growing number of people in the region is still showing its support for a strong strategy on democratic and consensus -led policies, Mada Bio knows about this big task that starts his term further.
During his initial speech, the new leader of the block admitted that “Ecowas should improve itself, and be more transparent, skilled and responsible for the needs of his people.”
Edited by: Sarah Hukal
