The withdrawal of Sahel States from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised significant economic and security concerns, according to Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, Co-Chair of the ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment, and People with Disabilities.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Parliament delocalised Committee meeting in Banjul, which gets underway today, Monday, April 28, 2025, The Gambia. Hon. Sesay said, “The withdrawal of Sahel States marks a profound geopolitical shift in our unity that has far-reaching implications for political stability, economic integration, and humanitarian coordination within our Community.”
The ECOWAS Parliament has convened to deliberate on the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc. She emphasised the need for a robust and objective assessment of the structural, legal, and socio-economic ramifications of the withdrawal.
“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS marks a profound geopolitical shift in our unity that has far-reaching implications for political stability, economic integration, and humanitarian coordination within our Community,” the co-chair said.
The Joint Committee will assess the implications of the withdrawal on regional governance and security, economic and trade integration, and humanitarian and social dimensions. “We must objectively assess the implications of this withdrawal on: Regional Governance and Security, Economic and Trade Integration, and Humanitarian and Social Dimensions,” the Sessay noted.
She urged participants to approach the discussions with a sense of urgency, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of regional cooperation. “The outcomes of this Sitting must provide a roadmap for preserving ECOWAS’ role as a stabilising force in West Africa,” she emphasised.