Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso officially exit ECOWAS

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
29 Jan 2025 15:31
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The decision marks the conclusion of a year-long process in which ECOWAS tried to prevent the unprecedented departure.

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Protests against Ecowas in Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou (AFP/Getty Images)

The junta-led nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as confirmed by the organization on Wednesday, January 29.

This marks the conclusion of a year-long process in which ECOWAS tried to prevent the unprecedented departure.

The withdrawal, initially announced a year ago, "has become effective today," according to ECOWAS in a statement. However, the bloc claimed its commitment to keeping the "doors open", urging member states to continue granting the three countries the privileges of membership, including "free movement within the region with an ECOWAS passport."

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger confirmed as "irreversible" their decision to leave the group a year ago, accusing it of being submissive to ex-colonizer France.

The impending exit of the three Sahel states might have a significant influence on free commerce and travel, as well as security cooperation.

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After cutting relations with France and turning their attention to Russia, the three governments created their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel governments (AES).

The three countries have all seen military coups and insurgencies in recent years. Guinea, an ECOWAS member, also has a military administration in place following a coup in 2021.

Tensions with ECOWAS escalated after the July 2023 coup in Niger, which led to threats of military intervention and heavy sanctions. However, ECOWAS has since eased its stance, with member states divided on how to address military regimes.

Regional countries have also taken opposing stances on Niger. Original members of the Western-backed ECOWAS bloc such as Senegal have affirmed their commitment to partake in the military intervention.

Mali and Burkina Faso who had also defected from the Western bloc vehemently opposed the threat of military intervention against Niger saying they would consider it a declaration of war against their respective nations if the ECOWAS bloc went through with the threatened military intervention.