In a significant development, the military regimes of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Gatekeepers News reports that the leaders of these Sahel nations on Sunday, stated that the decision to leave ECOWAS was a “sovereign decision” and would be implemented without delay.
Tensions had escalated between these nations and ECOWAS since coups occurred in Niger (July 2023), Burkina Faso (2022), and Mali (2020).
The three countries faced suspension and heavy sanctions from ECOWAS.
They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.
A French military withdrawal from the Sahel — the region along the Sahara desert across Africa — has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to the Gulf of Guinea states Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.
The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime on Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.
Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS, which has cold-shouldered Niamey, imposing heavy economic and financial sanctions following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
AFP
