Zersplitterung und auslaendische Einflussnahme: Neue Herausforderungen für die Integration der ECOWAS

The paper examines the impact of global powers and internal fragmentation on ECOWAS, noting that while external partnerships can support infrastructure and security, they often exacerbate divisions. It highlights the critical blow dealt by the January 2025 exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and recommends institutional reforms, including the creation of a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and a revamped communications strategy, to strengthen regional solidarity.

• External geopolitical actors, including China, Russia, Turkey, and Arab Gulf countries, are expanding their presence in West Africa through infrastructure investments, arms sales, and security ties, which often undermines ECOWAS's credibility by exploiting local grievances in conflict zones.
• Internal cohesion within ECOWAS is hindered by linguistic and cultural divides, specifically between Anglophone and Francophone members, and the existence of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), whose members often adopt common positions that clash with non-WAEMU states.
• The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS in January 2025, following their formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), represents a significant blow to the bloc's internal unity and complicates its integration objectives.
• ECOWAS faces a perceived credibility gap and accusations of double standards regarding its democratic principles, as it penalizes military juntas while allegedly ignoring 'institutional coups' by civilian leaders in countries such as Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
• Intra-regional trade among ECOWAS Member States is low, standing at only 12% as of April 2025, which indicates a heavy reliance on external markets and hinders the development of regional value chains.

APA

Gnanguênon, A., Thiam, D., & Aduku, E. B. (2025). Zersplitterung und auslaendische Einflussnahme: Neue Herausforderungen für die Integration der ECOWAS. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/zersplitterung-und-auslaendische-einflussnahme-neue-herausforderungen-fur-die-integration-der-ecowas-en

Chicago

Gnanguênon, Amandine, Daouda Thiam, and Emmanuel Baba Aduku. Zersplitterung und auslaendische Einflussnahme: Neue Herausforderungen für die Integration der ECOWAS. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2025. https://afripoli.org/de/zersplitterung-und-auslaendische-einflussnahme-neue-herausforderungen-fur-die-integration-der-ecowas-en.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gnanguênon |first1=Amandine |last2=Thiam |first2=Daouda |last3=Aduku |first3=Emmanuel Baba |title=Zersplitterung und auslaendische Einflussnahme: Neue Herausforderungen für die Integration der ECOWAS |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=23 October 2025 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/zersplitterung-und-auslaendische-einflussnahme-neue-herausforderungen-fur-die-integration-der-ecowas-en |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gnangunon2025zersplitterung, author = {Gnanguênon, Amandine and Thiam, Daouda and Aduku, Emmanuel Baba}, title = {{Zersplitterung und auslaendische Einflussnahme: Neue Herausforderungen für die Integration der ECOWAS}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/zersplitterung-und-auslaendische-einflussnahme-neue-herausforderungen-fur-die-integration-der-ecowas-en}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }