West Africa Trade Will Take a Hit As Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Leave Ecowas

[ad_1] The membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in February. Founded in 1975, Ecowas is one of eight regional economic communities recognised by the African Union to foster regional integration on the continent. Its main objective is to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation. Since 1975, Ecowas and its sister organisation the West African Economic […]

February 15, 2024 3

Africa

Africa: Wagner Group Is Now Africa Corps. What This Means for Russia’s Operations On the Continent

[ad_1] In August 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died after his private jet crashed about an hour after taking off in Moscow. He had been Russia's pointman in Africa since the Wagner Group began operating on the continent in 2017. The group is known for deploying paramilitary forces, running disinformation campaigns and propping up influential political leaders. It has had a destabilising effect. Prigozhin's death - and his aborted mutiny against Russian military commanders two months earlier - has […]

February 15, 2024 2

Africa

Africa: Proposed Ecowas Exits Leave West Africa At a Crossroads

[ad_1] Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger's request to withdraw presents a crucial opportunity to improve the regional bloc's functioning. On 8 February, the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold a special session in Abuja. The ministerial-level meeting will discuss political and security issues, including the withdrawals of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the organisation. This follows the announcement on 28 January by the three countries' military leaders that the nations […]

February 8, 2024 1