At 50, West African bloc teeters amid shifting alliances, security woes
AP Image
On May 28, 2025 Leaders of ECOWAS are gathering on Wednesday to celebrate 50 years since its formation and are expected to address regional security challenges as the continent also seeks answers in the face of US trade tariffs and aid cuts.
The anniversary could not have come at the worst of moments for the Economic Community of West African States -- once internationally respected as a force for stability.
ECOWAS is now fractured following the departure of junta-led countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger earlier this year.
It is also grappling with its security challenges with jihadists exploiting strained relationships between members and gaining ground in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.
Benin and Nigeria have experienced a wave of attacks in recent months.
And the Sahel region was in 2024 ranked the epicentre of global "terrorism" for the second straight year, accounting for more than half of deaths put down to terror attacks worldwide, according to the Global Terrorism Index published in March.
Coups and attempted putsches - driven by widespread public discontent and distrust in political elites - have rocked nearly half of original ECOWAS countries in the last decade, putting democracy on the ropes and straining relations among neighbours.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Advanced Strategic Management
IIMK ASMP
Apply Now
Undo
The departure of the three countries from ECOWAS dealt a blow to the bloc's credibility and regional influence, experts say.
The exit "is a major dent on this organisation's capacity to harness the optimism and hopes of its birth", said Kwesi Aning, an expert in international cooperation at the Accra-based Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
"It reflects a disastrous level of leadership amongst ECOWAS leaders," he added.
- Turmoil and trade -
Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current head of the rotating ECOWAS presidency, and the 89-year-old ECOWAS co-founder and former Nigerian military leader, General Yakubu Gowon, are due to address the gathering at a hotel in Lagos.
As the region's largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria was expected to be ECOWAS's "stabilising force", but it is "faltering", said SBM Intelligence in a report released Wednesday.
"Its internal crises - including economic mismanagement, political instability, the Boko Haram insurgency, and governance failures - have significantly diminished its ability to lead", said the report.
Overall, ECOWAS "finds itself at a critical juncture between its foundational aspirations of economic integration and peace and the stark realities of regional insecurity, democratic backsliding, and internal fragmentation," said SBM Intelligence.
The impact of the turmoil on trade among countries is stark.
Before relations between neighbours Nigeria and Niger soured following a coup in Niamey in July 2023, Nigerian traders shipped out several truckloads of edible grains from the bustling Dawanau market in the northwestern state of Kano daily.
While the volume of grains supplied from the Kano market into Niger has not changed much, it is the cost of doing so that is now biting.
Multiple traders and truckers told AFP in Kano that taxes paid on Nigerian goods imported into Niger have increased fivefold, fuelling a spike in smuggling activities across porous borders.
"We were paying an equivalent of 100,000 naira (about $64) as import duty on each truck before they left ECOWAS, but we now pay around 500,000 naira," said 40-year-old trucker Aliyu Abubakar.
"Smuggling is thriving," said Mustapha Buhari, 47, a resident of Nigeria's Mai-Adua, a border town.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gaurav visits Batadrava before taking charge as APCC chief
1 2 Guwahati: Newly appointed Assam PCC chief Gaurav Gogoi on Monday evening arrived in Guwahati to take charge of the post after being named as the successor of outgoing president Bhupen Kumar Borah. Earlier in the day, he went to the revered Batadrava Than in Nagaon before heading towards Guwahati to assume charge on Tuesday morning. Batadrava is the birthplace of the neo-Vaishnavite saint, scholar and social reformer, Srimanta Sankardeva. "In Batadrava Than, we remembered the message the harmony and unity propagated by Srimanta Sankardeva. We are resolved to march ahead in this path shown by him. Our efforts will be to take his ideology to the people in nooks and corners of Assam and India," Gogoi told the media outside the Than. Gogoi's journey from upper Assam to central Assam's Nagaon and then to Morigaon witnessed some undesirable scenes, with municipal administrations confiscating the banners and hoardings installed by Congress to welcome him, citing "unauthorised installation without permission". Gogoi will visit Kamakhya temple on Tuesday morning before assuming charge as the of the Assam PCC president at state Congress headquarters in Rajiv Bhawan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Gogoi said he trusts Congress workers at the grassroots, even as Congress believes in collective leadership. Gogoi said Congress will take key decisions on important issues like alliance formation ahead of 2026 assembly election only after taking to Congress workers at the grassroots and senior party leaders into confidence. "Unless we strengthen our party we cannot be a good ally. To be a good and strong alliance partner, first one has to increase its strength. We also need to seek public opinion on issues they want the alliance to address," Gogoi said. He added that Congress will expose "corruption under the BJP-led govt".Nagaon Municipal Board (NMB) authority in Nagaon town and Guwahati Municipal Corporation removed banners and hoardings installed by Congress on Monday morning, while the Congress workers prepared to accord grand welcome to the new state PCC chief. The banners and hoarding were removed and taken away by enforcement wings of the municipal bodies for installing these "without prior permission". AICC recently named Gogoi Assam PCC chief which is significant as Assam is going to the assembly election early next year. His elevation to the top post in state PCC came at a time when Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had been attacking him for last few weeks in connection with his British wife's alleged connection with ISI of Pakistan.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Punjab cabinet clears ‘voluntary' land pooling policy for 27 cities
Chandigarh: Amid criticism by opposition parties and some farmer groups, the Punjab cabinet on Monday approved a new land pooling policy aimed at curbing illegal colonies and the land mafia, while ensuring direct profit for farmers. Minister Aman Arora assured that not even "one square yard of land will be forcibly acquired" and the "participation would be entirely voluntary". T he scheme will initially be rolled out in 27 cities in the state. Slamming the opposition parties for allegedly misleading people about the policy, Arora said, "Attempts have been made to confuse landowners, but it's the best one drafted anywhere in the country. Farmers will have the freedom to decide whether to hand over their land to the state or a builder, or to develop it themselves. Unlike previous governments that banned the sale and purchase of notified land—often to benefit the land mafia and political leaders—those restrictions have now been removed. " Additionally, the policy offers compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre annually during the three-year development phase, with the govt aiming to complete the process within 1 to 1.5 years, wherever feasible. "Under this policy, the farmers have the option to turn into developers and entrepreneurs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60 m² Prefab Bungalow for Seniors in Qsyr Almarnh Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo It's a self-sustaining model and infrastructure like the outer roads and sewerage treatment plants (STPS) will be provided by the state," said Arora. The minister further said that a written consent (NOC) will be taken from farmers, and land will be given directly to the govt, not to private developers. Govt will fully develop the land and return plots to farmers and these will include all facilities like roads, electricity and water connections, sewerage pipes, streetlights, and parks. No private developers or land mafia can exploit farmers as the policy ensures that farmers are protected from exploitation by private players," he said. An official spokesperson added that the value of these plots will be up to four times the market rate. Each farmer will receive a written document from the govt, and this letter will clearly mention the farmer's full entitlement. Farmers can choose to receive two plots of 500 square yards each and they will have complete freedom to keep or sell them. The benefits are not limited to just one acre and the more land a farmer contributes, the greater the profit will be, he said. He further said the revised scheme had been rationalised to particularly benefit small and marginal farmers. "There will be additional benefits through partnership as if a farmer contributes nine acres, they will receive three acres of developed group housing land...," he said. Meanwhile, farmers in Ludhiana have been protesting against the plan to acquire over 24,000 acres of fertile agricultural land across 44 villages in their district, labelling the move a "land grab in disguise." CONDITIONAL PARTIAL SURRENDER The cabinet also approved the partial surrender and partial cancellation of licences issued to colonies under the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), 1995, as well as the partial cancellation of approvals granted to industrial park projects. A policy was notified on March 10, 2025, concerning the surrender of licences for developing colonies under the PAPRA Act and approvals for industrial parks, said the spokesperson. LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS To encourage allottees and bidders of residential, commercial, and other property plots to make lump-sum payments of 75% of the total amount, the cabinet approved a series of incentives. A 15% discount on the cost of the plot/site will be offered to allottees who make a lump sum payment. CABINET HIKES EDC, CLU CHARGES To further facilitate the state's holistic development and boost revenue generation, the cabinet approved an increase in External Development Charges (EDC), change of land use charges (CLU), licence fees (LF), and other charges applicable to real estate promoters. The last revision of these charges was notified on May 6, 2016, with a provision to increase the rates by 10% annually starting April 1. However, the govt waived the annual hike for several years. The charges have been increased from April 1, 2020, and have gone up by approximately 77% since 2016. EXISTING LAND POOLING FOR ONLY MOHALI Arora said the existing land pooling scheme was meant for only Mohali, which resulted in mushrooming of unauthorised colonies. "This policy is for the entire state… Now farmers will be given land to develop group housing. Besides, for land more than 50 acres, the landowners can develop their own colonies," he said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Punjab and Haryana high court declines to direct Punjab to appoint spy's son as Sub-Inspector, cites lack of policy
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has declined to direct Punjab to appoint a man as a sub-inspector (S-I) in the state police despite his father serving as an undercover agent and enduring a decade in a Pakistan prison following his capture for espionage. The court noted that in the absence of an established policy providing such appointments, it was not in a position to compel the state to act. Justice Jagmohan Bansal has passed the orders while dismissing a plea filed by Neeraj Sharma seeking directions to set aside the order dated Feb 7, 2024, and other orders of different dates whereby the Punjab govt rejected his representations for appointment as S-I in the state police. The petitioner claimed that his father, a spy with the Intelligence Bureau (IB), was apprehended by the Pakistan Army in Dec 1968. He was tried by a military court and awarded a sentence of 10 years. He was released in Dec 1974 and returned to India via the Wagah-Attari border, Amritsar. Through an application dated Aug 6, 2008, he requested then chief minister to help him like Kashmir Singh, a Hoshiarpur resident who was jailed for nearly 35 years in Pakistan on charges of spying and released in March 2008. Ferozepur deputy commissioner (DC), in a letter dated Nov 27, 2013, intimated that the monthly income of the family was around Rs 6,000 and they had only one house measuring 3 Marla. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Soluções de energia de confiança para Data Centers de IA Siemens Energy Learn More Undo On Dec 24, 2014, the CM sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 50,000. The petitioner submitted an application dated July 7, 2018, to the CM to give him a job like similarly situated persons. His father died on Oct 22, 2018. A communication took place between different authorities and ultimately, the petitioner, despite possessing qualifications of DPharmacy and BSc (medical), was offered the post of constable, which he took up. However, his pleas for appointment to the higher post of S-I were rejected. In his plea before the HC, his counsel submitted that the petitioner is a highly qualified person, and the state has offered Class-B posts to similarly situated persons. On the grounds of parity, the petitioner should be given the post of at least assistant sub-inspector instead of constable. Responding to the plea, the Punjab govt submitted that there is no policy of the state to make appointments as claimed by the petitioner. After hearing all the parties, the bench observed that the court, in the absence of an express or implied policy of the state govt, cannot direct authorities to consider the petitioner for a higher rank, especially when he has already been offered and appointed as a constable without complying with the terms and conditions applicable to the post. MSID:: 121570821 413 |
