AES: Members break with ECOWAS, a relief for the people
The decision by the members of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been met with a collective sigh of relief by the people of the countries involved. This gesture marks an important step in the pursuit of sovereignty and emancipation in the face of an organization seen as detached from the realities and major concerns of the populations, particularly the fight against terrorism.
For several years, ECOWAS has been perceived as an entity more concerned with externally imposed political agendas than with the critical challenges facing its member states. Economic sanctions, interference in the internal affairs of states, and decisions seen as unfavorable to regional security have fueled growing frustration and mistrust. The populations of the AES countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—have repeatedly expressed their dismay at an organization that seems to overlook the human tragedies caused by growing insecurity and terrorism.
For these people, the break with ECOWAS symbolizes taking control of their own destiny. By forming the AES, these states assert their commitment to prioritizing local solutions and strengthening their military and economic cooperation in a spirit of regional solidarity. This decision is viewed a s an act of freedom and self-determination, offering new hope for solutions tailored to the realities on the ground.
Ultimately, this withdrawal highlights the urgent need to reinvent regional cooperation in Africa, free from external dictates and interests far removed from the concerns of the people. The AES now stands as an alternative model where popular aspirations are placed at the heart of priorities.
