The military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The formal withdrawal was announced by the Nigeria-based regional bloc in a statement on Wednesday. Amid a series of coups, struggles with Muslim armed groups, and competition between Russia and the West for influence in the region, ECOWAS has become a target for the three nations.
The culmination of a yearlong process, the trio’s exit “has become effective today”, ECOWAS said. They first announced their intention to quit in January 2024 after the bloc demanded the restoration of democratic rule in Niger following a military coup.
In the statement, the bloc said it tried to avert its unprecedented disintegration and stressed that it would “keep ECOWAS’ doors open” in the spirit of “regional solidarity”.
The remaining member states were called upon to continue to grant citizens from the three countries the privileges of membership, including the free movement of people and goods.
