Three members of the Economic Community of West Africa States have announced their exit from the regional body.
The countries are, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso which are all under military dictatorship.
The three countries made their announcement in a joint statement on a national television on Sunday, stating that they are withdrawing their membership from the regional bloc.
They cited “sovereign decision” as reasons for their withdrawal, according to Wion News, adding that their withdrawal was with immediate effect.
“After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Niger junta spokesman, said in the statement.
“The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Abdramane added.
CAPITAL POST recalled that the takeover of democratic rule in Niger Republic by the military brought a serious crisis between the country and the neighbouring Niger which led to sanctions of the country by President Bola Tinubu who is the Chairman of ECOWAS.
Niger, however, mobilized Mali and Burkina Faso to their aid against decision of ECOWAS and threatened war if other ECOWAS countries moved against the Republic of Niger. The development led signing of mutual defence pact to assist one another against armed rebellion and external aggression in September, 2023.
Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita said on his X social media account, “I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework.”
ECOWAS has reduced to twelve out of the fifteen countries.
