THE AES COUNTRIES’ EXIT FROM ECOWAS AND THE BUILDING OF REGIONAL SECURITY

The strategic surprise, however, lies in the disputed application of procedural rules pertaining to how member countries can exit the Community. While the consequences of this strategic exit are still difficult to measure for either of the two communities, the move towards regional minimalism was driven by the AES countries’ need for greater autonomy in their collective defence.

This paper analyses the principal reasons for the exit of these three countries from ECOWAS, the issues at stake, and the implications for peace and stability in West Africa, as well as the impact of the split on the West African regional security architecture.

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