Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, three West African countries currently under military rule, have declared their intention to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahel nations said it was a “sovereign decision” to withdraw from the regional bloc, which they accused of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and insecurity.
The statement also denounced the “injustice” of the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the three countries following the coups that toppled their elected governments in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
The move comes as a blow to the stability and integration of the West African region, which has been facing multiple challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, poverty and migration.
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ECOWAS, which was founded in 1975 and comprises 15 member states, aims to promote economic cooperation, political dialogue and security among its members. It also has a mandate to intervene in cases of democratic breaches or human rights violations in the region.
However, the three military regimes have been increasingly dissatisfied with the role and actions of ECOWAS, which they perceive as biased and intrusive. Last year, they withdrew from an international force known as the G5 Sahel, which was set up to combat Islamist militants in the region, and formed their own alliance, called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS could have serious implications for the future of the bloc, as well as for the security and development of the region. It could also affect the relations between the West African countries and their international partners, especially France, which has been leading a military operation in the Sahel since 2013.
ECOWAS has not yet issued an official response to the announcement of the three countries, but it is expected to hold an emergency summit to discuss the situation and decide on the next steps.