Three West African countries—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—have decided to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc aimed at promoting cooperation.
These countries, led by military juntas, were already suspended from ECOWAS for not following democratic principles.
In a joint statement aired on their state media, they cited reasons such as ECOWAS moving away from its original goals and being influenced by foreign powers.
They also accused the bloc of not effectively helping them combat terrorist violence in their nations.
Tensions between these countries and ECOWAS escalated after military coups occurred in each of them. ECOWAS has been urging them to return to civilian rule, but the military leaders are adamant, claiming they need to restore security before holding elections.
Despite ECOWAS’ efforts, the three countries are strengthening ties with Russia and forming their own defense alliance. They argue for more time to transition back to civilian rule, delaying scheduled elections.
Although ECOWAS remains committed to finding a solution, the situation is complex. Recently, a planned meeting between ECOWAS and the junta in Niger was postponed due to technical issues with the aircraft.
This update draws from information provided by BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68122947