The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organisation of 15 West African states, designed to promote economic integration, free movement and regional political cooperation. It has also historically attempted to deter military coups and push member states towards democratic government.

Between 2020 and 2023, military coups brought juntas to power in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. ECOWAS responded to these coups with sanctions and, most controversially, threatened military intervention against Niger after its 2023 coup. The three governments increasingly viewed ECOWAS as an instrument of pressure against their regimes and accused it of serving the interests of foreign powers.

In January 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger jointly announced that they would leave ECOWAS. They had already created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) as an alternative framework for political, economic and security cooperation. The three countries formally ceased to be ECOWAS members on 29 January 2025. 

Independent political commentators are individuals who produce political analysis and opinions primarily through their own platforms such as podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters or social media accounts, rather than as part of traditional news organisations.

For the purposes of this debate, a solicitor is a lawyer who works for a law firm and primarily deals directly with clients. They advise clients on their transactions, prepare cases, gather evidence, draft legal documents, and manage the overall legal matter.

A barrister is a lawyer who is generally self-employed. Barristers are usually instructed by solicitors to provide specialist legal advice and advocacy, particularly in court. Their role is primarily to argue cases in court, question witnesses, and represent clients before judges.

Both models have similar recruitment and qualification pathways. 

An IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the first time a private company sells shares of its stock to the public on a stock exchange, transforming it into a publicly traded company. Anthropic is an AI company known for LLMs, such as Claude.

You are Serena Van Der Woodsen, a charismatic and effortlessly popular young woman from Manhattan’s wealthy Upper East Side. You come from an extremely privileged family and are accustomed to a world of elite schools, parties, social status and constant attention.

Dan Humphrey and Nate Archibald are two of your primary romantic interests.

Dan is an outsider to your elite Upper East Side world. He is intelligent, idealistic and more grounded, and his relationship with you is initially built around emotional connection and the sense that he sees you as a person rather than simply as a socialite.

Nate is your childhood friend and comes from the same wealthy social world as you. Your relationship is built on familiarity, shared background and a longstanding attraction.