SADC must heed lessons from West African crisis, warns expert
Security and crime expert Willem Els says the current crisis in West Africa should serve as a warning to countries in the South African Development Community.
The warning comes after Senegal's President, Macky Sall, decided to delay elections in that country, just a week after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger broke ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Southern African countries such as Namibia and South Africa are preparing for elections due to take place in 2024.
Els says although Southern Africa is not as prone to coups as their West African counterparts, SADC failed to act when allegations of vote rigging were made in Zimbabwe last year.
"We also have some countries in Southern Africa, like Zimbabwe, where there were some disputes about whether the elections were free and fair. SADC did not act decisively against Zimbabwe, so that leaves the door open for the same challenges that are happening in ECOWAS.”
Foreign ministers from West Africa on Thursday held talks to discuss the political crisis in Senegal and the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the regional bloc.
The three coup-hit countries account for 15% of ECOWAS’s population, nearly half its surface area, and have considerable economic potential.
Els says ECOWAS is concerned about these countries' departure because of the economic consequences.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso believe the bloc’s economic and financial sanctions against Mali and Niger, following military coups in those states, are “illegal, illegitimate, inhuman and irresponsible in violation of its own rules”.
They also contend the sanctions were imposed at the instigation of “foreign powers” and accuse ECOWAS of withholding support in their fight against terrorism and insecurity.
"What we also see is that ECOWAS has free movement, currency, and trade, which is a lot of benefits for these countries,” Els says.
"Now they have to negotiate all these benefits or renegotiate with these countries that are leaving, that might jeopardise the economies of these countries.”
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