The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to relocate its institutions and agencies from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, following the formal withdrawal of these three nations from the regional bloc. The decision was made at an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Accra, Ghana, where ministers discussed contingency plans and future relations with the three countries, which now operate under the Alliance of Sahel States.

Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Chair of the Council and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged the gravity of the situation in his opening remarks. While ECOWAS had hoped for the continued membership of all states, the organization respects the sovereignty of the withdrawing nations under their current military administrations. Tuggar emphasized the necessity to adapt and create a forward-looking strategy, including the relocation of ECOWAS institutions to avoid operational interruptions.

According to a statement by his media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar urged fellow ministers to view the current crisis as an opportunity for institutional renewal and a stronger commitment to regional unity. He reaffirmed that ECOWAS remains the most integrated regional bloc in Africa, founded on harmonized policies and a shared vision for political, economic, and security cooperation.

In separate news, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party have announced plans to stage pickets in Pretoria. These protests are reportedly in response to Ukraine President Zelensky’s visit to South Africa, according to EWN.