By Our Reporter
The military regimes of the three Sahel nations comprising of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Sunday, announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, saying it had become a threat to member states.
The leaders of the three countries reportedly described their decision to leave the Commission without delay as a “sovereign” one.
Their joint statement accused the 15-member ECOWAS, “under the influence of foreign powers, of betraying its founding principles, and had become a threat to member states and peoples.
They accused the grouping of failing to help them tackle jihadists, who swept into Mali from 2012 and then on to Burkina Faso and Niger.
Although the ECOWAS Commission indicated readiness for a “negotiated solution” with the three countries, the presidency in a swift reaction to the news of their withdrawal, said the three countries had ceased to be members of ECOWAS technically, having been on suspension all the while.
The three countries were placed on suspension following the coups that took place at different times in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in 2022, 2020 and 2023 respectively, having been foundational members of the bloc since 1975.
ECOWAS thereafter, slammed the three erring countries with heavy sanctions in order to force them to return their countries to civilian rule and enthrone democracy.
Following the sanctions, the three nations have hardened their positions in recent months, and determined to take control of their destiny joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.
Facing pressure from the military regimes, France has been forced to remove her ambassadors and troops from the countries as Russia military takes over.
With reports from the Vanguard