Shockwaves rippled throughout the area when Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger abruptly declared their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States “immediately” was declared a “sovereign decision” by the leaders of the three Sahelian countries.
The action begs concerns about the future of regional peace and collaboration in West Africa, given the geopolitical dynamics and shifting alliances around it.
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Currently, the militaries of all three nations have usurped control from civilian leaders.
“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 a statement
Following the coups, the three nations were suspended from ECOWAS, and ties between them and the bloc have been deteriorating for months.
“The organisation notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Abdramane said.
They formed their own organisation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), after pulling out of the G5, an international organisation established to combat Islamists in the Sahel.
West African leaders urged a “short” time of transition towards civilian rule in coup-hit Niger at a meeting held in December in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, before they would remove economic sanctions on the nation.
Following his deposed in July 2023, Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum was informed by the junta that civilian rule would not resume for three years.
In the case of Mali, civilian rule had ended prior to the August 2020 coup, the first of two.
In 2022, Burkina Faso’s elected government was overthrown. The current leader of the nation, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has permitted elections to be held this summer without placing the nation under sanctions.
He has stated, however, that the battle with the rebels continues to be the major priority.
