DAKAR, SENEGAL — Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has embarked on a diplomatic mission to persuade the Confederation of Sahel States to rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Sonko visited Bamako to discuss with Malian leaders the possibility of Mali returning to ECOWAS, following the sanctions that had been imposed on the country.

According to Burkina Information Agency, prior to Sonko’s visit, President Diomaye Faye of Senegal also traveled to Bamako and then to Ouagadougou on May 30, 2024, advocating for the same cause. These efforts are part of a broader initiative by the new Senegalese leadership, perceived as agents of change, to not only facilitate the return of these states but also to push forward the implementation of a single ECOWAS currency and necessary institutional reforms.

Critics argue that instead of focusing solely on reintegration, ECOWAS should address its broader challenges, including economic integration and the effective monitoring of democratic processes in the region. Despite its role in deploying electoral observers across West Africa, ECOWAS has faced criticism for its lack of a forceful response to terrorism in the Sahel and for its perceived inefficiency in handling regional issues.

Further, the article reflects on the stalled projects and the potential for new initiatives that could harness the collective resources of ECOWAS citizens to realize sub-regional dreams, such as the development of infrastructure like railways which have long been planned but not executed.

Kambire also notes the ongoing suspension of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from ECOWAS and questions the impact of their withdrawal on the organization, which still includes 12 member states. He suggests that the real challenge for Sonko and Faye is not just diplomatic negotiation but revitalizing ECOWAS to ensure it serves its foundational goals and regains the trust and utility to its people.