Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger exit ECOWAS, embrace closer ties with Morocco

On January 28, 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The three countries, along with Chad, had joined Morocco's Atlantic Access Initiative on December 23, 2023.

Called a «mirage» by Algeria, the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project back to ECOWAS

After Algeria recently described it as a «mirage», the gas pipeline project to link Nigeria to Morocco, passing through several West African countries is the subject of an ECOWAS meeting this week. Morocco is represented there by the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM).

Morocco and ECOWAS, a forgotten union

Three years ago, Morocco made a bid to join ECOWAS and since then the union has been out of sight. The West African bloc continues to ignore the Kingdom’s bid. As for Morocco, it seems that the enthusiasm of the first months has given way to a form of resignation.

To Morocco, ECOWAS must rethink its counterterrorism approach

Morocco is extending a helping hand to West Africa to fight against terrorism. During an ECOWAS extraordinary summit, the Kingdom urged the regional grouping to rethink its counterterrorism approach.

Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project : Meeting in Abuja with ECOWAS

Another ECOWAS summit ignores Morocco’s bid to join the trade bloc

Africa : Since 2001, Morocco has been moving slowly up in CEN-SAD

Long before joining the African Union, Morocco had showed interest in the CEN-SAD since 2001 to extend its influence on the continent. After the fall of Gaddafi, in September 2011, Morocco has strengthened its presence in the regional grouping.

Re-elections in Senegal and Nigeria, good news for Morocco’s diplomacy

In February, both Senegalese and Nigerian presidents were re-elected for second terms. The situation in Senegal and Nigeria is a positive step for Morocco, which is wishing to gain the support of West African countries, politically and economically speaking.

Following the steps of neighboring countries, Algeria gets interested in ECOWAS

Hindered by the Sahara dispute, the Arab Maghreb Union has never really managed to seduce its members. Algeria is the last country in the region to show interest for the Economic Community of West African States.

ECOWAS 54th Ordinary Session ignores Morocco’s bid to join the grouping

Almost two years after it requested to join the Economic Community of West African States, Morocco is still waiting for a final answer. The grouping’s last Ordinary Session, however, ignored Rabat’s bid.