Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Pull Out of ECOWAS

With immediate effect, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have officially pulled out of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS. 

Leaders of the three Sahel nations made the disclosure in a statement they issued on Monday.

In the statement, leaders of the three nations described their action as a “sovereign decision” that is to be implemented “without delay” following what they described as a threat to member states.

The statement added that the decision became imperative as the sub regional economic group is now under the influence of foreign powers. 

According to the leaders, the three sahel countries also founding members of the union, leaders of ECOWAS have betrayed its founding principles, thus becoming a threat to member states and peoples.

ECOWAS suspended the three Sahel nations following military coups which ousted their democratically elected governments. The regional body also imposed severe sanctions on the trio in a bid to engender early return of civilian governments with elections.

But leaders of the affected countries refer to the action of ECOWAS as being “irrational and unacceptable posture” at a time when the three “have decided to take their destiny in hand”. Following the fallout, they formed the Alliance of Sahel States. 

Meanwhile, ECOWAS in its reaction, insisted that the community is ready for a “negotiated solution” with the three countries. It added however, that following their suspension, the three were technically non-members of the regional bloc