Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who is the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, has the responsibility to take an exceptional conciliatory initiative toward the Alliance of Sahelian States. This would give the mission led by Senegal and Togo a better chance of success and avoid what could be seen as the foretold chronicle of failure. Such an approach, worthy of a man of his generation and experience, would be well received by the people of the AES who, despite everything, largely support their leaders. By doing so, he would reaffirm the regional organisation’s genuine desire to preserve its unity and keep all its members within its fold.
Nigeria, whose current presidency of ECOWAS is held by President Tinubu, cannot allow history to record the downfall of this subregional organisation.
As the successor to Yakubu Gowon, the founding father of ECOWAS, Tinubu—a businessman with a well-established reputation—cannot disappoint the youth of the region and even the continent. They saw in his term the promise of ECOWAS’s reorientation toward its primary mission: the economic and social development of West Africa.
To avoid an indelible stain on his presidency, he must act now because time is running out
Indeed, when ECOWAS followed the realistic and pragmatic guidelines of the early post-independence leaders, it managed, as early as 1979 in Dakar, to take a fundamental step guaranteeing visa-free travel for West African citizens and the establishment of a common passport and identity card.
These advances allowed citizens to travel, trade, and forge ties among themselves, strengthening relations rooted in shared customs and traditions that transcend the artificial borders inherited from colonial powers. These customary principles, upheld by most of the people, represent a reality that African elites, often influenced by foreign agendas, sometimes ignore.
In 2001, ECOWAS adopted an Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, praised by human rights activists. This text prohibits any “unconstitutional change” and requires that any accession to power take place through free, fair, and transparent elections. It also prohibits any substantial reform of electoral law six months before elections.
However, for the majority of citizens who only become aware of ECOWAS on the eve of elections, this protocol seems to sum up the organisation’s entire activities. Yet, it also sets out essential principles, particularly that the army is at the service of the nation and forbids the use of weapons against non-violent demonstrators.
Despite this, it must be noted that many member states do not meet the minimum conditions for pluralist democracy. Merely wielding sanctions does not impose democracy: citizens must be educated and trained in civic engagement, emphasising the common good and the general interest.
ECOWAS, rather than preventing conflicts, seems to act after the fact. For example, the situation in Guinea under Alpha Condé could have been avoided if preventive measures had been taken. Likewise, the grievances of citizens in AES countries, ignored for years, have led to the current situation.
Imposing sanctions, such as closing borders, disregards the population’s deep commitment to freedom of movement, one of the pillars of ECOWAS. Furthermore, the idea of military intervention to overthrow the government in Niger could have sparked a “war of the poor”, a tragic and unjustifiable scenario.
ECOWAS must pull itself together. Its inertia is partly responsible for the current crisis. As President Diomaye Faye recently pointed out, this situation exposes the organisation to the risk of losing 60 per cent of its territory.
It is time for ECOWAS to reaffirm its role as a mediator. By entrusting the reconciliation mission to Senegal and Togo, it made a prudent choice. The historical contributions of Presidents Léopold Sédar Senghor and Gnassingbé Eyadéma justify this decision.
We call on the leaders of the AES to facilitate this mission, to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater. This is the century of major blocs. A united Africa hopes to speak with one voice at the G20 and to obtain two permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
Finally, to President Assimi Goïta and his peers: the men and women of goodwill in our region understand you. Help preserve our unity by making reconciliation easier, for history will judge our actions and our capacity to build a shared future.
