Banjul, April 29, 2025 – (©AfreePress) – The decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) continues to stir deep concern within the regional bloc. At the sixth legislative session of the ECOWAS Parliament, which opened on April 28, 2025, in Banjul, The Gambia, prominent voices warned of the far-reaching consequences of this unprecedented departure, calling it a « major geopolitical rupture. »
Speaking at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Centre, Honorable Veronica Kadie Seesay, co-chair of the ECOWAS Parliament’s joint committee, highlighted the multifaceted repercussions of the move. « For the first time in nearly 50 years, the unity of our bloc is profoundly shaken. This decision undermines the very pillars of our integration: peace, security, economic cooperation, and social development, » she stressed.
The session, held outside ECOWAS headquarters, focused on the political, legal, security, economic, and humanitarian fallout of the withdrawal, as well as its impact on human rights, trade, free movement, and social inclusion. Since the exit took effect in January 2025, member states have been grappling with the scale of the crisis.
An existential challenge for ECOWAS
Honorable Billay Tunkara, Fourth Vice-President of the ECOWAS Parliament and Majority Leader of The Gambia’s National Assembly, sounded the alarm. « ECOWAS has lost 20% of its members overnight. Our voice on the global stage is weakened, and so is confidence in our shared vision », he said.
He warned that the departure of the Sahel Alliance States (AES)—key players in counterterrorism efforts—could jeopardize joint operations, disrupt intelligence-sharing, and hinder cross-border infrastructure projects. « The return of strict border controls threatens one of ECOWAS’s greatest achievements: the free movement of people and goods, » he cautioned.
Socioeconomic effects are already emerging: rising unemployment, forced migration, worsening food insecurity, and potential restrictions on humanitarian aid in vulnerable areas.
A call for reform and solidarity
Despite the gravity of the situation, ECOWAS leaders refused to succumb to fatalism. Honorable Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Speaker of The Gambia’s National Assembly, praised the Parliament’s decision to convene in Banjul as a show of regional solidarity. He called the crisis « the most severe since ECOWAS’s founding in 1975—even more consequential than Mauritania’s exit in 2000. »
Jatta commended ECOWAS’s pragmatic response, including transitional measures allowing citizens of the exiting states to retain certain privileges: recognition of ECOWAS documents, visa exemptions, trade facilitation, and job security for their civil servants within the bloc.
« This triple exit is a wake-up call. Have we truly listened to our members’ concerns? Can we adapt our model to their realities? », Honorable Tunkara asked.
He called for frank dialogue and structural reforms to strengthen the bloc’s resilience, adding, « Our duty is to build bridges where others erect walls. »
A new dawn for regional integration?
In his closing remarks, Honorable Tunkara expressed hope that the Banjul meeting could mark the beginning of a revival. « A renewed ECOWAS, where every nation and citizen sees themselves in the collective vision. An ECOWAS true to its founding spirit—where cooperation outweighs self-interest, and hope triumphs over despair », he said.
All eyes are now on the session’s resolutions, which may redefine the future of West African integration.
Olivier ADJA
