Mali, Niger and B. Faso exit ECOWAS

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have made the decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately.

The three countries, currently under military rule, expressed their disappointment with ECOWAS in a joint statement, stating that the organization has strayed from its original principles and the spirit of Pan-Africanism. As a result of the coups and their refusal to return to civilian rule as directed by ECOWAS, the countries were previously suspended from the organization.

The tensions between the military juntas and ECOWAS came to a head during a summit in Nigeria, where West African leaders demanded a quick transition to civilian rule in Niger before lifting economic sanctions. The civilian rule in Mali was last in place prior to the first coup in August 2020, and Burkina Faso’s elected government was overthrown in 2022.