The military governments of all three countries have announced their intention to withdraw from the West African bloc, claiming the organisation threatens their independence.
Mali’s foreign ministry provided AFP with a copy of a letter sent to ECOWAS, while Burkina Faso’s official news agency confirmed a formal notification had been filed.
While there was no information from Niger, statements from Mali and Burkina Faso emphasise the common nature of their decision.
In response, ECOWAS indicated in an earlier statement that it was awaiting “formal and direct notification” from the countries concerned.
According to the bloc’s charter, the withdrawal cannot take effect until at least a year after formal notification.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, original members of ECOWAS since 1975, have now been sanctioned by the regional organisation because of recent military coups that overthrew democratically elected civilian governments.
On Sunday, all three countries, known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), issued a joint statement claiming that ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) has succumbed to foreign influence, thus deviating from its original principles and posing a threat to its member states and citizens. Nigeria, a dominant force in the region, conveyed its disappointment in a statement issued late on Monday regarding the decision of the three countries to withdraw from the bloc it hosts. As quoted by France 24, the foreign ministry statement reads:
Nigeria stands with ECOWAS to emphasise due process and our shared commitment to protect and strengthen the rights and welfare of all citizens of member states. Instead, unelected leaders engage in a public posturing to deny their people the sovereign right to make fundamental choices over their freedom of movement, freedom to trade and freedom to choose their own leaders.
The military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso had earlier announced their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, citing a perceived threat to member countries. In response, the Tinubu government expressed its willingness to engage with the three countries in line with ECOWAS interests.
Recently, however, the three countries have hardened their positions and merged into an “alliance of Sahel states”.
The 15-nation regional bloc Economic Community of West African States was established in 1975 with a goal:
To promote co-operation and integration … in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability.
Since then, ECOWAS has emerged as the highest political body in the region, often co-operating with states to address internal issues ranging from politics to economics to security.
