Despite Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s exit from ECOWAS, Commission President Omar Alieu Touray told FRANCE 24 that he remains hopeful West Africa will stay united. He highlighted the bloc’s success in creating “a single market for 400 million people” over 50 years. While acknowledging challenges, Touray emphasised that ECOWAS leaders will “keep the door open” to the three countries, even after the July deadline for potential re-entry.