ECOWAS Begins Relocating Key Institutions from AES States

ECOWAS has begun the process of relocating key institutions from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after the three countries formally withdrew from the regional bloc earlier this year. The move, discussed in an extraordinary ECOWAS meeting in Ghana, signals a significant shift in the bloc’s operations and future relations with the breakaway Sahel nations. According to the council chair, the decision reflects ECOWAS’ wish to respect the sovereignty of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and adapt to the new geopolitical landscape. Meanwhile, the AES, formed by the three nations, has taken concrete steps to assert its independence. The bloc has created its regional passport, imposed trade restrictions on non-AES states, and expelled ECOWAS representatives, among other things.

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