It is not an aberration for Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, who are members of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to announce their intention to quit the regional bloc after several years of membership. The ECOWAS treaty succinctly states that its member states who wish to quit the bloc shall give its leadership a one-year written notice, at the end of which such a state shall cease to be a member of the community.
Even as the countries have accused ECOWAS of a lack of support and inhumane coup-related sanctions, it should be understood that an organization like ECOWAS is not a secret cult, hence members have the liberty of exiting when their expectations are not met. Come to think of it, has ECOWAS as a body lived up to its biddings as a regional bloc with the responsibility of fostering peace among members?
Recalling my Government and Citizenship Education classes way back in secondary and tertiary institutions, I was taught that the main goal of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is to promote co-operation and integration in order to raise the living standards of its people, and to maintain, as well as enhance economic stability.
Analysing the above critically, I make bold to say that the regional bloc formed May 28th, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria with 15 nations as members, has not done enough at ensuring that there is ecnomic development in all member states. There has been alleged economic backwardness of some countries while also the organization has been accused of completely failing to raise the living standard of people in these countries that are members.
If that is the case, why would countries including Nigeria, decry the announcement by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, to quit the regional bloc? Is it not obvious that ECOWAS has outlived the reasons behind its formation?
Yes, the organization has done enough in the area of peacekeeping operations. In fact, ECOWAS, no doubt has worked tirelessly to address some security issues through peacekeeping operations involving ECOMOG- an arm of ECOWAS saddled with the responsibility of resolving conflicts in the West African region or bloc.
We have seen the 15-nation regional West African bloc, respond to emergency situations or coup d’état in countries that are full fledged members of the organisation. Prominent among them, was the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and recently in Niger where the President of the country, Mohamed Bazoum was ousted by a junta.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the body has responded to military takeovers as well as criticizing in strong terms, the actions of masterminds. But one thing is criticising masterminds of military takeovers in the bloc, another is coming hard on some heads of states in West Africa who have remained in power for more than 40 years.
In as much as we know the reasons behind military takeovers in Africa generally, ranging from corruption by leaders, sit-tight syndrome of some of the leaders in the bloc, failure to provide dividends of democracy among others, ECOWAS, as a body that ought to foster peace in West Africa, has not come up with stringent measures on how to dissuade leaders in the bloc from remaining in power against the wishes and aspirations of the people.
Their inability also to stem these tides have led to the portrayal of the West African bloc as a toothless bulldog. What could be said about conduct of elections in the bloc? Of a truth, someone who wangled his way to win election and clinch power does not have the locus standi to advice or call for credible polls or advice the military to desist from seizing power even when elections are rigged by civilian administrations in the bloc.
The truth remains that some African leaders have not shown enough example in their respective countries. How can kettle call pot black? ECOWAS can be revived, if leaders of the bloc become transparent in their approach to issues in their countries. They should leave a legacy for the coming generations to emulate. Corrupt tendencies and sit-tight syndrome which made the African continent stagnated should be jettisoned.
I’m sure if the above is done, those countries that recently announced quitting the regional bloc can still rescind their decision.
Izuchukwu Nwokoma is a Public Affairs Analyst and Journalist
