In a joint statement released on Sunday, the military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have declared their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The leaders of these three Sahel nations asserted that this decision was a “sovereign” one and emphasized the urgency of leaving ECOWAS.
Struggling with the challenges of jihadist violence and poverty, these regimes have experienced strained relations with ECOWAS since coups unfolded in Niger in July last year, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020. Consequently, all three nations faced suspension from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali enduring substantial sanctions.
In recent months, these nations have solidified their positions, forming an “Alliance of Sahel States.” The withdrawal announcement comes amid growing concerns about the spread of conflicts southward to the Gulf of Guinea states, including Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast, particularly with the French military withdrawing from the Sahel region along the Sahara desert.
The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime criticized ECOWAS for “bad faith” on Thursday, following the bloc’s avoidance of a planned meeting in Niamey. Niger had hoped for an opportunity to address differences with fellow ECOWAS member states. However, Niamey has been cold-shouldered by the regional bloc, which imposed significant economic and financial sanctions after the military coup that ousted elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
