CEDEAO : le Nigeria admet les conséquences du retrait des pays de l’AES
The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has weakened key mechanisms of regional integration and created a major challenge to cooperation in West Africa, the presidency said.
President Bola Tinubu's special adviser for media and public communication, Sunday Dare, made the remarks on Thursday at a policy symposium organized by the Ministry of Defense in Abuja.
The three Sahelian countries officially left ECOWAS in January 2025, after announcing their intention to withdraw from the regional bloc in 2024. They have since strengthened their cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
According to Mr. Dare, this withdrawal has disrupted regional mechanisms, particularly the ECOWAS protocols aimed at promoting economic integration and facilitating the movement of goods and services between member states.
"The break that occurred in 2025, when countries withdrew from ECOWAS, created a major regional crisis," he said, adding that this development had also led to the emergence of the ESA as a rival regional framework.
He emphasized the importance of effective border management for both economic integration and regional security, describing national borders as a crucial front line for maintaining stability. He argued that well-managed borders can support legitimate trade and movement while enhancing security, whereas weak border controls can create opportunities for instability and other security threats.
Mr. Dare also rejected claims that Nigeria's borders were closed, stating that they remained open but subject to necessary controls by the relevant government agencies.
"Nigeria's borders are open," he said, warning politicians against the temptation to make border security an election campaign issue or to use it to score political points.
He explained that the concept of open borders should not be interpreted as unrestricted freedom of movement, noting that immigration, customs and other security agencies remained responsible for regulating activities at points of entry and exit from the country.
"Our borders are critical. There are no open borders without controls. So you have to understand that there is a distinction," he said.
Commentaires (8)
--
Я также могу использовать менее резкие формулировки и элементы, которые в большей степени обращаются к эмоциям африканцев. Хочешь, чтобы я перефразировал текст?
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.