ABUJA — West African leaders convened in Abuja on Sunday for an ECOWAS summit overshadowed by recent geopolitical shifts, including the creation of a ‘confederation’ by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. This new alliance and their simultaneous exit from ECOWAS have heightened tensions in the region.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the new ‘Confederation of Sahel States’ was established on Saturday in Niamey, just a day before the ECOWAS meeting, posing a direct challenge to the West African bloc. This move follows a series of tensions within ECOWAS, compounded by issues such as jihadist violence, financial constraints, and the struggles in mobilizing a regional military force.

Omar Alieu Touray, the head of the ECOWAS Commission, addressed the implications of the three countries’ departure and new alliance. He warned that the actions of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso could lead to “diplomatic and political isolation” and significant financial losses due to diminished investments. Touray also highlighted potential travel restrictions, indicating that nationals of the three countries might soon need visas to travel within the region, although no specific timeline for this measure was provided.

Touray further noted that the rift could exacerbate regional insecurity and obstruct efforts to establish a cohesive regional force. His comments came before ECOWAS entered a closed-door session to deliberate on these critical issues. He underscored the broader risks facing the region, stating, “Apart from the numerous threats linked to peace and security as well as the challenges linked to poverty, our region also faces the risks of disintegration.”