Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has described the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States as a major regional crisis.

Dare made the remarks on Thursday at a policy colloquium organised by the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

He said the three countries’ exit in 2025 weakened ECOWAS protocols that had promoted regional integration and the free movement of goods and services among member states.

According to Dare, the withdrawal also contributed to the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States, now known as the Confederation of Sahel States, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

He said the development had created a competing regional structure while challenging existing mechanisms for cooperation across West Africa.

“The rupture that came in 2025 when the countries pulled out of ECOWAS created a major regional crisis,” Dare said.

The three military-led governments formally left ECOWAS in January 2025, after announcing their intention to withdraw the previous year.

They had accused the regional bloc of failing to adequately support them in tackling jihadist insurgencies and criticised what they regarded as ECOWAS’ close alignment with France.

Dare said the situation had affected the effectiveness of regional integration frameworks, particularly those designed to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.

He stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation despite the political differences that have emerged between ECOWAS and the Sahel states.

The comments come amid continuing efforts by West African countries to manage the political, security and economic consequences of the split between ECOWAS and the three Sahel nations.