UPDATE: BURKINA FASO, MALI, NIGER REPUBLIC QUIT ECOWAS
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The military governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso declared on Sunday that they would be leaving the West African organisation ECOWAS immediately.
In a statement, the three Sahelian presidents said that their decision to exit the Economic Community of West African States “without delay” was made “sovereignly.”
The governments, beset by poverty and violence by jihadists, have had strained relations with the ECOWAS ever since coups occurred in Niger in July, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020.
Niger and Mali were subject to severe sanctions, and all three were expelled from ECOWAS.
In recent months, they have solidified their positions and united under the banner of the “Alliance of Sahel States.”
A military pullout by the French from the Sahel, an area of Africa along the Sahara desert, has raised fears that the conflicts may expand south to the Gulf of Guinea republics of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.
Following the bloc’s widespread rejection of a scheduled meeting in Niamey, the military government of Niger’s designated prime minister criticised ECOWAS on Thursday for acting in “bad faith.”
After a military coup toppled elected president Mohamed Bazoum, Niamey was subjected to harsh economic and financial sanctions. Niger had hoped for a chance to resolve its concerns with other ECOWAS members.
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