2024-04-25 09:54:27
Following the tragic events of terrorist threats which pushed the military to take over the governance of countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) saw the loss of these three member countries, which decided to create the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Considered at its creation as one of the pillars of the African Economic Community, ECOWAS was created with the aim of promoting the ideal of collective self-sufficiency of its member states. As an economic union, it also aims to create a single large trading bloc through economic cooperation.
The main role of ECOWAS is to promote cooperation and integration with a view to an economic union of West Africa and to strengthen relations between member states. So what has this regional organization brought to countries in the region?
Dr Boga Sako Gervais, Teacher-Researcher at the university in Ivory Coast, Founding President of FIDHOP (International Foundation for the Observation and Monitoring of Human Rights and Pacific Life) wonders regarding the management of political crises by ECOWAS, in Sahel countries, such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
“To resolve the political problem in the AES countries, ECOWAS should not sanction the countries concerned, but rather take into account the choice of the people, because the coups in these countries have changed the existing definition of others coups d’état.
This is a new notion of the interruption of the constitutional order which is supported by the people in which case the coup d’état becomes the popular choice.
During an interview on the role of ECOWAS in regional development, Dr Boga Gervais said that “ this organization has never spoken regarding the CFA Franc. »
Indeed, the leaders of the member states have never addressed this subject of changing monetary policy except for the change in the name (Editor’s note: change from the CFA Franc to the Eco).
« Presumably the leaders of the sub-region have the vision of international donors who remain in the shadows“. The expert said that it is impossible to talk regarding development as long as the countries concerned do not have their own currency.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have a vision of creating a common currency and promoting regional security. United within the Alliance of Sahel States, these countries see it as an alternative to ECOWAS for regional integration.
After the elections in March this year in Senegal, the new elected president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, carries the same seeds of monetary sovereignty, thus, possible membership in the AES is possible.
Several African Internet users point out that the AES might be an excellent alternative to ECOWAS for the integration of West African countries, in the security and economic fields.
By Mara Diallo
1714040184
#major #challenges #AES #ECOWAS
