By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Military-ruled Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have insisted on their withdrawal from the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with effect from Wednesday, following strained relations.
Following coups at different times since 2021, ECOWAS suspended the nations.
In line with the bloc’s constitution, the three countries had, on 29 January 2024, notified ECOWAS of their desire for “immediate” withdrawal.
Their expected withdrawal on Wednesday comes on the heels of the three nations’ refusal to accept ECOWAS’s call to extend the period by six months to explore possible windows of resolution.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are now united in a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Their military rulers accuse ECOWAS of having imposed “inhuman, illegal, and illegitimate” sanctions against them after the coups that brought them to power.
They also believe that the West African organisation has not helped them enough to fight jihadist violence.
They further argue that ECOWAS is subservient to their former colonial ruler, France.
France has become the common enemy of these juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
The strained relations were worsened by the July 2023 coup in Niger. ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily to reinstate the deposed president and imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niamey, which have now been lifted.
The three countries will put their own common passport into circulation on Wednesday and have announced a unified army of 5,000 men to fight jihadists soon.
The loss of three founding members will “weaken ECOWAS’s ability to regulate political crises in the regional area,” AFP quoted Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi, as saying.
