Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic have announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing alleged deviation from the ideals of the organization’s founding fathers and pan-Africanism. The announcement was made by their military leaders, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), Col. Assimi Goita (Mali), and Brig. Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani (Niger Republic), who are currently in power in their respective countries.
The joint statement accused ECOWAS of moving away from its founding principles and becoming a threat to member states. The military leaders criticized ECOWAS for failing to assist the three countries in their fight against terrorism, a common reason cited by their militaries for the coups that ousted democratically elected governments.
In response, the ECOWAS Commission expressed that it had not received a formal notification about the withdrawal and stated that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the community. The Commission emphasized its commitment to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse and working towards the restoration of constitutional order.
The development comes amid tensions between the military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger and ECOWAS since coups took place in these countries in recent years. The three nations had faced suspension from ECOWAS and economic sanctions.
The situation adds complexity to the political landscape in West Africa and underscores the challenges faced by regional organizations in maintaining stability and democratic governance in the face of political transitions and security concerns.
