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Ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic are forging ahead with plans to establish a confederation, according to statements from the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday. This move signals a deepening of ties among the three nations, potentially impacting broader West African integration efforts.
The decision to pursue a confederation comes on the heels of their recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced in January 2024. The decision to withdraw has been met with caution from the regional bloc, which has urged the three nations to reconsider, citing potential additional hardships resulting from the withdrawal.
Despite their founding membership in ECOWAS in 1975, all three nations had been suspended from the bloc following military coups that toppled elected civilian governments.
General Kassoum Coulibaly, Burkina Faso’s Defence Minister, highlighted the ongoing discussions in Ouagadougou as an opportunity to advance the establishment of the confederation’s legal framework and operational mechanisms. His counterpart from Niger, General Salifou Modi, expressed optimism about the efficient functioning of the alliance and confederation, emphasizing the potential benefits for the populations of the three countries.
In a significant move last November, the finance ministers of the three nations announced considerations for setting up a monetary union. Additionally, high-ranking officials from all three countries have shown varying degrees of support for abandoning the West African CFA franc, a common currency.
The military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have severed longstanding military ties with their former colonial ruler, France. This decision has not only weakened France’s influence in the Sahel but also complicated international efforts to combat militants associated with groups like al Qaeda and the Islamic State operating in the region.
