OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso – In a recent statement in Ouagadougou, Appolinaire Kyelem de Tambela, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, remarked on the extensive population movements and freedom of travel before the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According to Burkina Information Agency, the era preceding the formation of ECOWAS witnessed the most significant population movements and freedom of mobility within the region. Kyelem de Tambela highlighted this historical context during discussions with representatives from the private sector, noting that many Burkinabè residing in ECOWAS countries, especially Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Mali, had settled there before the creation of the regional organization.

The Prime Minister’s comments come in the wake of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s decision to withdraw “without delay” from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) aimed at consolidating their efforts against terrorism. He recalled a specific agreement with Ivory Coast dated March 9, 1960, which predates ECOWAS, focusing on the employment conditions of Burkinabè workers in Ivory Coast, highlighting the long history of bilateral agreements and cooperation in the region.