Burkina, Mali and Niger announced in a joint official statement their withdrawal from ECOWAS with immediate effect.
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THE Burkina FasoTHE Mali and the Nigerthree countries led by military juntas, announced this Sunday, January 28 that they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect.
The announcement was made simultaneously, in the midday newspapers, on the public television channels of the three countries. The joint press release is signed by the Malian Assimi Goïta, the Burkinabè Ibrahim Traoré and the Nigerien Abdourahamane Tiani. Foreign influence, lack of support in the fight against terrorism, unacceptable economic sanctions… the arguments for announcing this departure from ECOWAS are developed in the press release, read in Mali, by Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, government spokesperson.
Their Excellencies Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Colonel Assimi Goîta and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, taking all their responsibilities in the face of history and responding to the expectations, concerns and aspirations of their populations, decide in complete sovereignty on the withdrawal without delay from Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger of the Economic Community of West African States.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, spokesperson for the Malian government
The announcement made simultaneously in the three capitals gives the feeling of a decision that was staged, underlines our regional correspondent, Serge Daniel, because initially, the heads of the juntas of Niger and Burkina received a delegation from the three countries. Then, the same press release was read, simultaneously in Bamako, Niamey and Ouagadougou.
Furthermore, what is striking is that during the last summit of the Economic Community of West African States held in Abuja, Nigeria, this was already circulating. Two diplomats from the three countries concerned who had come to discuss in the corridors with the authorities and ECOWAS officials (although their countries were suspended) were already threatening and saying: “ You will see, we are capable of slamming the door of ECOWAS if we are not understood “.
In the press release, the three leaders therefore speak of interference by foreign powers, non-assistance from ECOWAS in the fight against terrorism and the sanctions which hit their countries hard to justify this decision.
We must still remember that Niger, Burkina and Mali are still members of ECOWAS because the texts are clear: there is a withdrawal deadline. That is to say that if you notify today that you are leaving, that you slam the door, you can only actually leave in a year.
The three countries, faced with similar problems of insecurity, jihadism and poverty, have had tense relations with ECOWAS since the military took power there by force, in 2020 in Mali, in 2022 in Burkina Faso and in 2023 in Niger.
ECOWAS is trying to stem the attacks and push for civilians to return to power as quickly as possible. It took heavy sanctions against Mali and Niger and went so far as to threaten to use force in the latter country. It suspended the three countries from its organs.