The West African nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have jointly announced their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc that has been urging them to return to democratic rule.
In a statement, the leaders of the three Sahel nations referred to their departure as a “sovereign decision” made without delay. They criticized ECOWAS for imposing what they deemed to be “inhumane” sanctions on their countries and accused the bloc of deviating from the principles of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism.
The suspension of the three countries by ECOWAS came after military coups toppled their democratically elected governments. In response, the nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States, a defense pact aimed at protecting their territorial integrity.
They have also severed military and cooperation ties with France and sought security support from Russia. The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel region has raised concerns about the potential spread of conflicts to neighboring Gulf of Guinea states.
The junta leaders argue that their primary focus is on establishing security before restoring democracy, as they grapple with jihadi violence and poverty.
They claim that ECOWAS has failed to provide adequate assistance in their fight against terrorism and insecurity.
This trilateral decision to leave ECOWAS has dealt a blow to the organization’s efforts towards regional integration, creating a sense of uncertainty.
