Three military-led West African nations; Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have announced their withdrawal from regional bloc ECOWAS effective immediately, accusing the body of becoming a threat to its members.
The junta-led countries had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging them to return to democratic and civilian rule.
The three governments who jointly say it is a “sovereign decision” to withdraw from ECOWAS, were also founding members of the bloc, first established in 1975.
In a joint statement (read out on state broadcasters in the three countries) says ECOWAS has ” drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.”
It goes on to say that ECOWAS “under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to member states and peoples,” adding that the bloc has failed to help them tackle the jihadist violence in their countries.
Relations between the bloc and the three countries have been tense after military coups took place in Niger in July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
