In a geopolitical context marked by the reshaping of regional alliances, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) SIPODI Program organized a strategic conference in Accra on the theme:
“Security risks and challenges associated with the withdrawal of ECOWAS member states from the AES.”
Bringing together security experts, academics, researchers, military officials, and civil society representatives from West Africa for two days, the meeting provided an opportunity to explore in depth the consequences of the political rupture between the states of the Alliance of Sahel States (SAES) – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
🧩A platform for exchange between experts and practitioners
The proceedings were structured into several thematic sessions addressing, in particular:
- the evolution of ECOWAS security policy,
- the immediate impacts of the AES withdrawal on collective security,
- military reconfigurations and new operational challenges,
- the economic effects of the withdrawal,
- the risks of an increase in the informal economy and cross-border crime, and alternatives for cooperation in defense and intelligence.
🧩A diversity of approaches and findings
Among the highlights of the discussions were:
- the weakening of regional security cooperation mechanisms;
- the suspension of the Accra Initiative and several joint operations;
- the rise of security and economic vulnerability in the states;
- growing tensions between national sovereignty and collective security needs;
- the intervention of new external actors in the AES space (state and private actors);
- the need for technical and political dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES.
The speakers also highlighted the need for the states concerned to develop a security doctrine adapted to the realities of the Sahel, taking into account the multifaceted challenges: terrorism, organized crime, economic fragility, and growing social demands.
A call for renewed cooperation
At the end of the meeting, strong recommendations were formulated.
🧩 Strong Recommendations
- Initiate an ECOWAS-ESA strategic dialogue mechanism on security issues;
- Strengthen national resilience and intelligence mechanisms;
- Promote regulated mobility and inclusive economic cooperation;
- Encourage scientific research and local expertise in public security policies;
- Reformulate the vision of sovereignty in a regionalized context.
The SIPODI West Program, a space for strategic reflection in the service of peace
Through this initiative, the SIPODI Program confirms its role as a platform for dialogue, foresight, and peacebuilding in West Africa.
By bringing together diverse voices on issues critical to the future of the region, this conference laid the foundations for a broader reflection on alternative forms of security cooperation and the need to preserve the spirit of regional integration in a space marked by political turmoil.
