Mali and Burkina Faso have sent official notices to ECOWAS on withdrawal from the regional bloc, while Niger is expected to follow suit.
The foreign affairs ministry in Mali showed a copy of the letter to AFP, and Burkina Faso’s state news agency confirmed the move.
Niger has not yet made any public statement, but the other two countries said their decision was a joint one.
ECOWAS, which was established in 1975 with the aim of fostering economic cooperation and development among its 15 member states, said it was waiting for a “formal and direct notification” from the three countries after the trio issued a joint statement on Sunday that they have decided to quit the regional bloc, claiming that it has betrayed its founding principles and become a tool of foreign interference.
READ ALSO: ECOWAS: We’ll Engage Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger — FG
The three countries, which are all under military rule, have formed a new alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Nigeria, the host and the most powerful member of ECOWAS, reacted with sadness to the news of the departure of the three countries.
In a statement released late Monday, the foreign ministry said that Nigeria stood with ECOWAS to uphold due process and the rights and welfare of all citizens of member states.
The statement also said that Nigeria had tried to “reach out to all members of the ECOWAS family to resolve the difficulties we face” but that it was “now clear” that some members did not share “the same good faith”.