The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has finalized plans to relocate its institutions and agencies currently based in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, following the formal withdrawal of the three countries from the regional bloc.
This decision was reached during an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Accra, Ghana, where contingency measures and future relations with the three nations, now aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States, were discussed.
In his opening remarks, the Chair of the Council and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, acknowledged the significance of the situation, noting that while ECOWAS had not wished for the withdrawal of any member states, it must respect their sovereignty under their current military administrations.
“We must now adapt and chart a forward-looking path,” Tuggar said, adding that the potential relocation of ECOWAS institutions from the withdrawing countries is necessary to prevent operational disruptions.
According to a statement by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar encouraged fellow ministers to treat the current crisis as an opportunity for institutional renewal and a renewed commitment to regional unity.
He stressed that ECOWAS remains Africa’s most integrated regional bloc, built on harmonised policies and a shared vision for political, economic, and security cooperation.
The statement reads: “As we look ahead, our responsibility is to maintain the ECOWAS legacy and pass it on stronger to the next generation. Our unity has been tested before—and we emerged stronger. We will do so again,” he declared. The Chair concluded by calling on his colleagues to engage in constructive deliberations and to ensure the effective implementation of the withdrawal, reaffirming that ECOWAS remains the premier platform for addressing West Africa’s collective challenges.”
“Membership, as the saying goes, has its privileges,” he added pointedly.
He also congratulated Ghana and the ECOWAS Commission on the successful launch of the “ECOWAS at 50” celebrations, describing the commemorative activities as a timely reflection of the bloc’s achievements and aspirations.
“This gathering demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the advancement of our regional community and the fulfillment of ECOWAS’s core purpose,” the chair stated.
