ECOWAS faces risk of political instability after 3 nations withdraw
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President of the ECOWAS Commission warned of political instability in the union after the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
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An ECOWAS flag is seen placed amid flags of member states at the bloc’s extraordinary summit on February 3, 2022. (AFP)
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, warned on Thursday that the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) jeopardizes the political stability of the regional community.
An extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) convened on Thursday at the commission's headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, specifically to address the decision of the three countries to withdraw from the community.
"The unfolding events in the Region are posing threats to peace and political stability in the West African community," Touray was quoted as saying by ECOWAS following the meeting.
The official stressed that the organization must stay together during this critical period, adding that there was "no real basis in the reasons given by the countries" when they decided to abandon their membership in the community, highlighting that the nations did not consider the consequences of their decision on their people.
Read next: AU says 'regrets' Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger's resignation from ECOWAS
During the meeting, MSC Chairman Yusuf Maitama Tuggar expressed that the recent developments have sparked widespread anxiety both within the region and beyond. He emphasized the urgency of finding solutions to the challenges presented by these decisions.
In late January, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali jointly announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in a formal statement. They labeled the bloc a "threat" to its member states and denounced it for imposing "illegal, illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible" sanctions on the three countries. The trio reportedly submitted formal notifications of their withdrawal to ECOWAS the following day.
ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the three West African nations after demanding the reinstatement of civilian governments following coups in Mali in 2020, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger in 2023.
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