Burkina Faso, Mali And Niger Leave ECOWAS Regional Bloc

Military Regimes in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso Declare Immediate Withdrawal from the ECOWAS Regional bloc

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced the immediate withdrawal of the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

In a joint statement that was broadcast on Niger national television on Sunday, the military regimes of the two nations declared their intention to leave the regional alliance.

The three Sahelian leaders reportedly said in a statement that they had made the “sovereign decision” to exit the Economic Community of West African States “without delay.” This information was obtained by Wion News.

The statement was released by the Niger junta spokesperson, Colonel Amadou Abdramane. “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,” the statement read.

The three nations agreed to support one another in the event of an armed uprising or external aggression when they signed a mutual defense pact in September 2023, “The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity.” Abdramane added.

ECOWAS threatened to use military force and imposed sanctions on Niger after a military coup there in July of last year.