ECOWAS is wounded; it is in intensive care unit — Obasanjo

Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has observed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is battling for survival.

He made the remark while delivering a Republic Day lecture in Ghana on Thursday, July 3, themed “ECOWAS and its Survival – Impact of the Alliance of the Sahelian States and Way Forward.”

The event was organized by the One Ghana Movement and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

Reflecting on the history of ECOWAS since its establishment in 1975, Obasanjo recounted its successes in fostering economic cooperation, peacekeeping missions, and the promotion of democratic governance across member states.

He, however, lamented the recent wave of political instability, military coups, and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

“ECOWAS is wounded for now, maybe not mortally, but it is in intensive care unit. It would require strong and proactive political attention to keep it alive and healthy again, and that may take a generation,” Obasanjo said.

He further cautioned against any military confrontation between ECOWAS and the AES, warning that such a move could trigger a proxy war in the sub-region.

“I have two great fears — one is youth reaction to events in West Africa. They support every phase of it. Two is military confrontation between ECOWAS and AES with proxy war being staged in the two sub-regions of Africa,” he stated.

Obasanjo urged West African leaders to prioritize unity and address the grievances of the three breakaway states through diplomacy and mutual understanding.

He stressed that the future prosperity and security of the region depend on the ability of member states to mend their differences and work together under the ECOWAS framework.