ECOWAS Council Convenes in Accra Over Withdrawal of Sahel States, Mulls Relocation of Institutions
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
In a decisive moment for West Africa’s regional bloc, the ECOWAS Council of Ministers met in Accra for an Extraordinary Session to address the fallout from the official withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The session, chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, focused on drafting contingency plans and exploring the potential relocation of ECOWAS institutions currently situated in the exiting Sahelian nations.
According to Tuggar, this is not a gathering they wished for, but it reflects their resolve to move forward with unity and purpose, acknowledging the weight of the occasion.
He praised Ghana’s hospitality and hailed the successful launch of the “ECOWAS at 50” celebration as a moment of reflection and recommitment.
The Council deliberated on critical memoranda presented by the ECOWAS Commission, including the suspension of programmes in the departing countries, the complexities of free movement across borders, and institutional adjustments required to ensure operational continuity.
Tuggar, while expressing regret over the countries’ withdrawal, urged member states to see the challenge as an opportunity for renewal.
