Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has expressed concern over the security implications of the recent withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He warned that the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has disrupted existing security frameworks, while Chad’s plans to exit the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) could weaken joint military operations in the region.
Speaking at a review meeting with Field Commanders in Abuja, Abubakar highlighted a growing security threat posed by terrorist groups, citing their use of drones armed with locally fabricated grenades in a kamikaze-style attack on troops in Damboa last year. He stressed the urgent need to deploy a comprehensive and integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (C-UAV) system to protect military personnel and air assets.
ECOWAS officially recognized the withdrawal of the three Sahel nations on January 29, 2025, after the completion of their mandatory one-year notice period. However, in a gesture of regional solidarity, the bloc has requested its members to continue recognizing the national passports of these countries, bearing the ECOWAS logo, until further notice.
The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has deepened fractures within ECOWAS, raising concerns about the regional bloc’s stability and future. The three military-led governments, which have accused ECOWAS of excessive reliance on France, have instead sought stronger ties with alternative partners such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
In response, they have established a new confederation known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a significant shift in West Africa’s security and political landscape.
