ECOWAS at Crossroads: Lawmakers Warn Over AES Split, Migrant Attacks, Failing Free Movement

West Africa’s regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is confronting mounting internal and external pressures as lawmakers meeting in Abuja for the First Ordinary Session of 2026 debate the future of regional integration.

At the centre of discussions are the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS, worsening insecurity across the region, and increasing attacks on West African migrants.

Although the three Sahel nations officially exited ECOWAS in January 2025 to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Nigerian lawmaker Dr. Sulaiman Gumi urged the bloc to keep diplomatic channels open, insisting it remains in the countries’ long-term interest to return to ECOWAS.

However, lawmakers warned that preserving regional unity will require more than political appeals.

Ghanaian MP and Third Deputy Speaker Alexander Afenyo-Markin strongly criticised the bloc’s inability to protect citizens travelling within and beyond the region.

Referring to the killing of Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso and xenophobic attacks against West Africans in South Africa, he declared that a regional body that cannot guarantee the safety of its people risks losing credibility.

According to him, speeches and declarations alone are insufficient to address the growing insecurity facing West African citizens.

In response, the ECOWAS Parliament directed its Committee on Political Affairs to investigate terrorist attacks in Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as anti-migrant violence in South Africa.

Lawmakers also acknowledged that the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol continues to face serious implementation challenges.

Harassment at border posts, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and limited public awareness of citizens’ rights were identified as major obstacles undermining one of the bloc’s core principles.

Amid the growing concerns, Ghana reinforced its commitment to the regional body by paying $82.5 million in outstanding ECOWAS levies, a move seen as strengthening its influence at a time when the organisation is under pressure to demonstrate relevance and cohesion.

Tensions also surfaced during deliberations over member states’ reports. Nigerian delegate Awaji-Inombek Abiante criticised what he described as attempts by some countries to downplay serious domestic issues in official presentations.

He accused Senegal of failing to document arbitrary arrests and faulted Liberia and Sierra Leone for omitting details of a border dispute with Guinea. His remarks sparked reactions from fellow lawmakers, prompting a heated exchange during the session.

Elsewhere, Senegalese delegates highlighted agricultural modernisation efforts as a key driver of economic growth, while the departure of Ivorian lawmakers signalled ongoing institutional changes within the Parliament.

The session underscored a defining moment for ECOWAS as the bloc grapples with political fragmentation, security threats, migration concerns, and questions over accountability.

For many observers, the challenge now is whether ECOWAS can evolve into a truly unified regional force or risk being viewed as a symbolic institution with limited practical influence.