Three West African nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have decided to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The decision comes as all three countries are currently under military rule following coups against their civilian leaders.
In a statement, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for the Niger junta, expressed regret and disappointment with ECOWAS, stating that the organization has strayed from its founding principles and the spirit of Pan-Africanism over its 49-year history. Abdramane particularly criticized ECOWAS for its failure to provide assistance to these nations in their ongoing fight against terrorism and insecurity.
Relations between the three countries and ECOWAS had already deteriorated, and they were suspended from the regional bloc after the coup takeovers. Last year, they withdrew from the G5 international force, which aimed to combat Islamist extremism in the Sahel region, and established their own alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Tensions between the military juntas and ECOWAS were evident during a summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, in December. West African leaders demanded a swift transition to civilian rule in Niger before considering lifting economic sanctions on the country. Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was deposed in July 2023, and the junta has announced a three-year timeline for the return to civilian governance.
Mali experienced the first of two coups in August 2020, interrupting civilian rule. Burkina Faso’s elected government was ousted in 2022. While Burkina Faso has not faced sanctions, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the current ruler, has emphasized the paramount importance of combating insurgent groups.
The departure of these three nations from ECOWAS reflects their dissatisfaction with the regional bloc’s response to their individual circumstances. The long-term implications of their exit from ECOWAS and the formation of the AES remain uncertain, as the focus shifts to maintaining security and stability in the region.
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