The three nations, led by military governments, accused the regional bloc of becoming a threat to member states.
Three military-led West African nations have announced their immediate withdrawal from the ECOWAS regional bloc, accusing the body of becoming a threat to its members.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso “decide with full sovereignty the immediate withdrawal” of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reads a joint statement published on Sunday.
ECOWAS “under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its Member States and its population,” the statement reads.
The three countries accused the regional body of not supporting their fight against “terrorism and insecurity”, while imposing “illegal, illegitimate, inhuman and irresponsible sanctions.”
ECOWAS said in a statement that it had not been notified of the countries' decision to leave the bloc. Its protocol foresees that the withdrawal will take up to a year to complete.
“Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political deadlock,” he said.
Widely seen as West Africa's highest political and regional authority, the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc – formed in 1975 to “promote economic integration” in member states – has struggled in recent years to reverse rampant coups d'état in the region where citizens have complained of not benefiting from rich natural resources.
Military takeovers took place in Mali in 2020 and 2021, in Burkina Faso in 2022, and in Niger in 2023.
The regional body reacted by suspending the three countries and imposed strong sanctions on Niger and Mali.
On Friday, Niger attempted to mend ties with ECOWAS by inviting its representatives to the capital, Niamey, but only Togo's representation showed up.
“There is bad faith within this organization,” lamented Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, prime minister appointed by Niger's military.
The military leaders of the three nations have vowed to confront the rise of violent armed groups in their countries and have joined forces in the so-called “Alliance of Sahel States.”
All three countries have cut military ties with France, the former colonial power. France once had a strong presence throughout the Sahel, but announced the withdrawal of its troops from the three countries after the coups.
The French military withdrawal and economic sanctions on already fragile economies have raised concerns that armed groups could spread south toward the relatively stable coastal countries of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.
West Africa recorded more than 1,800 attacks in the first six months of 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths and dire humanitarian consequences. According to a senior ECOWAS regional official, this was only “a fragment of the horrendous impact of insecurity.”
