ECOWAS to shift offices from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.
ECOWAS headquarters
ECOWAS to shift offices from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso.
The Economic Community of West African States has begun moves to relocate its institutions and agencies from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso following the recent withdrawal of the three Sahelian nations from the regional bloc.
At an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, the ministers deliberated on logistical strategies for the relocation and the suspension of ongoing regional programmes in the three countries, now governed by military juntas.
The session was convened in response to a directive issued by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government during its 66th Ordinary Session.
Chair of the Council and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, opened the session with a call for calm, pragmatism, and unity.
He described the situation as a “difficult chapter in ECOWAS’s history” but emphasised the need for resilience and adaptation.
“This session is not one we had hoped for,” Tuggar stated. “But in recognising the sovereignty of these nations under their current military governments, we must now adapt and chart a forward-looking path.”
A statement released by Tuggar’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed that the council had been tasked with developing a framework for disengagement, including the relocation of ECOWAS institutions and mitigation plans for affected programmes.
The ministers discussed how to ensure the uninterrupted operation of institutions involved in critical areas such as security, economic development, and regional mobility.
Memoranda are expected to be submitted with detailed plans for transitioning ECOWAS offices and operations to alternative host countries.
“The council will examine the potential relocation of ECOWAS institutions and agencies currently based in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with an eye toward mitigating any disruptions caused by their exit,” the statement read.
Tuggar reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to regional integration and praised the bloc’s legacy as Africa’s most integrated sub-regional body.
“While these developments are unprecedented, they also present an opportunity to renew and strengthen our resolve,” Tuggar noted. “Our unity has been tested before, and we emerged stronger. We will do so again.”
The council’s deliberations will continue in the coming days, with member states expected to approve a comprehensive action plan for relocation and realignment.
