Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS has been met with “deep regret” by the African Union (AU).
The AU’s commission president, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has urged regional leaders to engage in dialogue with the three countries, emphasizing the importance of fraternal dialogue without external interference.
The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have stated that their decision to leave ECOWAS is a sovereign one, and they have faced heavy sanctions from the bloc as a result.
These nations, which were founding members of ECOWAS, have formed an Alliance of Sahel States and are determined to take control of their own destinies.
ECOWAS has released a statement clarifying that it has not yet received any formal notification from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic regarding their intention to withdraw from the Community.
The Commission emphasized that it has been actively working with these countries to restore constitutional order and find a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
The ECOWAS Commission assured that it will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as necessary.
Nigeria also expressed its sadness over the withdrawal of these Sahel nations and reiterated its commitment to engaging with them. Nigeria emphasized the importance of ECOWAS in promoting peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region, and emphasized the need for due process and the protection of the rights and welfare of all citizens.
Nigeria acknowledged its sincere efforts to resolve the difficulties faced by the Community, but noted that the leaders seeking to withdraw do not share the same good faith. Instead, these unelected leaders are engaging in public posturing that denies their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices.
This includes choices related to freedom of movement, freedom to trade, and freedom to choose their own leaders.
