Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Quits ECOWAS
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have announced they are leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The junta-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.
The three governments said it was a sovereign decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
In a joint statement – that was read out on state broadcasters in the three countries – they said ECOWAS had drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
It goes on to say that ECOWAS under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to member states and peoples, adding that the bloc had failed to help them tackle the jihadist violence in their countries.
Relations between the bloc and the three countries have been tense after military coups took place in Niger in July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
Read Also:
Niger Republic Junta Hopes for Deal with ECOWAS
In a response to Sunday’s announcement, it said the three countries were important members of the community and the bloc remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
It also said it had not yet received formal notification from the countries about their withdrawal from the bloc.
The bloc had previously said it does not recognise the military-led governments, vowing that coups would no longer be tolerated after the military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea and an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau.
