By Emman Ozoemena
What is the geopolitical implications of the emergent sub-regional by the trio of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in West Africa? Recall the three nations were suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the aftermath of the successful coup de’tats in their countries.
After failed negotiations by ECOWAS leadership, the three countries, who have an alliance, pulled the joker by formally exiting the 53-year-old sub-regional union.
Recent developments including the formation of ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ by the three nations, the defense pact with the the Russia and expulsion of the French Troops from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali and the ongoing demobilisation of the United States two military bases in Agadez, Niger Republic are pointers to an emerging realignment of the West Africa political economy and geopolitics.
How all these developments will impact on war on terror in the sub-region, trade relations, open air agreements will unfold in the coming days.
Are these possible indicators that ECOWAS may be further polarized as the key actors in the cold war of the previous era are set to use West Africa, which is a predictable resource area globally as testing ground for a nascent power play?
The thought that the Russian military are said to have boots on ground in Niger after the expulsion of her former colonial power is a bad dream that has become a reality.
My summation is that ECOWAS may never survive the implosion which had rocked it’s foundation through the trio military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
As they say, ‘Time will tell.’
Ozoemena is a Public Policy Consultant