All Is Possible

For nearly half a decade now, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been on the spotlight. This time around, not because of economic gains, but because of her attempts to seek solutions to the different coup d’états that have rocked the region. It all started with Mali, Guinea-Conakry, Burkina Faso and then Niger. Unlike in the past, ECOWAS leaders within a short pace of time, did not only imposed sanctions on these countries, but ordered the “activation” and “deployment” of a regional standby force to restore constitutional order in the coup plot countries. The decision taken by these leaders during an extra-ordinary meeting of the bloc instead radicalized an already delicate situation. Instead of the coup plotters returning constitutional powers to democratically elected leaders, they decided to create a solidarity military bloc known as the “Sahel” ready to defend each other in case of any aggression, then announced on January 28, 2024 their withdrawal from ECOWAS after forty-nine years of devoted membership. 
Though the decision by the three countries to withdraw has left the region divided. There are still high possibilities that they can still come back to their decision to depart from the regional bloc because; after forty-nine years of doing business and fraternity, withdrawing is not always a right decision especially for the population that has for years been mingling through marriages and cultures. The negative economic consequences of a sudden withdrawal are often enormous. For countries that are struggling to stabilize their economy, especially after the disastrous effects of Covid-19 and the war against jihadists, it is believed that the leaders of these countries would not take the ri...