Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic officially declared their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday, citing a departure from the founding ideals and pan-Africanism, according to reports by PUNCH.
The announcement, made jointly in Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey by their military leaders, raised questions about the future of regional cooperation and stability.
The military leaders-Capt. Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), Col. Assimi Goita (Mali), and Brig. Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani (Niger Republic)-asserted that ECOWAS had transformed into a threat to its member states.
They accused the organization of failing to assist in the fight against terrorism, which had been a common reason cited by their militaries for the recent coups and suspension of democratically elected governments.
The joint statement highlighted the disappointment of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in ECOWAS's alleged deviation from its original objectives.
It specifically mentioned the organization's failure to provide support during their existential fight against terrorism and criticized ECOWAS for imposing sanctions deemed illegal, illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible.
However, the ECOWAS Commission responded swiftly, expressing its lack of awareness regarding the withdrawal.
The Commission emphasized that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remained crucial members of the community and reaffirmed its commitment to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
Tensions between ECOWAS and the three countries had escalated since the military coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in 2023, 2022, and 2020, respectively.
ECOWAS had imposed sanctions, including travel bans, border closures, and asset freezes, in response to the coups.
Notably, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had formed a security alliance and severed military ties with France and other European nations, turning to Russia for support.
The President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Edward Asante, addressed the situation, urging unity among member countries.
He emphasized the importance of working together for the benefit of the entire subregion and discouraged conflicts that could undermine the court's mandate.
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