Trade

On January 28, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will lose three of its founding members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—comprising 16% of its population of 424 million and 7% of its GDP. Labeled “Sahelexit” by some commentators, the decision to leave ECOWAS was first announced a year ago by the three countries’ trio of military leaders and is now poised to legally take effect.

On January 28, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will lose three of its founding members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—comprising 16% of its population of 424 million and 7% of its GDP. Labeled “Sahelexit” by some commentators, the decision to leave ECOWAS was first announced a year ago by the three countries’ trio of military leaders and is now poised to legally take effect.

Does Africa need food self-sufficiency to achieve long-term food security?

Not necessarily, according to new research from IFPRI.

With food security continuing to deteriorate across the region and an estimated 600 million people expected to be chronically undernourished by 2030, shoring up Africa’s food and nutrition security has become a priority for the region’s policymakers. This perceived need has been further highlighted by recurring shocks to global food markets, including the 2008 food crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since its establishment in 1975, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been a regional economic community (REC) success story, enabling free movement of people and enhancing trade integration across its 15 member states. When it comes to the movement of agricultural goods, however, ECOWAS continues to be hampered by regional conflict, political instability, corruption, poor infrastructure and logistical capabilities, and the lack of a common regional currency.

 The latest Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) indicates that intra-African agricultural trade has already reached a new high of US$ 17 billion, finally surpassing its previous 2013 peak, which was reached after a tripling of growth the decade prior. This recent surge, despite the disruptions and aftereffects of COVID-19, must be further accelerated through additional policy and infrastructure support, as well as intra-regional trade facilitation, argue the authors.