In a significant development, the military-led governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have declared their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The leaders of these three Sahel nations issued a joint statement on Sunday, asserting that their departure from ECOWAS is a “sovereign decision” to be executed promptly.
Struggling with challenges such as jihadist violence and economic hardship, these regimes have experienced strained relations with ECOWAS, particularly since coups occurred in Niger in July 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020. The aftermath of these coups led to the suspension of all three nations from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing substantial sanctions.
Further details on this development are anticipated.
