Skip to main content

Breaking! Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Quit ECOWAS

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is now rocked by a major crisis as yesterday, three member-countries-Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have announced their withdrawal from the body, this comes into effect after lengthy disagreement and rejection of military rule in West Africa by ECOWAS.

However, the 49-year old ECOWAS claimed that it was yet to get notification about the withdrawal announced by governments of the three countries.

The three Sahel nations said in a joint statement on state televisions that they had made a “sovereign decision” to leave ECOWAS “without delay”.

The juntas said they have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the ECOWAS,” alleging that the bloc has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment.

The statement added: “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure.”

Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, relations between the regimes and ECOWAS have been ruptured, following the coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

The three countries were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

They have hardened their positions in recent months and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States”.

The French military withdrawal from the Sahel – the region along the Sahara desert across Africa – has heightened concerns over the conflicts spreading southward to Gulf of Guinea states – Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.

The prime minister appointed by Niger’s military regime, Ali Zeine, Thursday blasted ECOWAS for “bad faith” after the bloc largely shunned a planned meeting in Niamey.

Following the military coup that overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum, Niger had hoped for an opportunity to talk through differences with fellow states of ECOWAS. However heavy economic and financial sanctions, was imposed on Niamey.

ECOWAS, in a statement yesterday, said it was yet to get any official or direct notification from the three countries.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on the National Televisions of Mali and Niger announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.

"The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three member states about their intention to withdraw from the community.

“The ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the community and the authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.

“The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves."

The exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has stirred reactions from international relations expects. They urged the regional body to employ persuasive diplomacy to bring them back and resolve the crisis.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

APC Consensus Candidate: Uncertainty, Buhari, Governors, NWC, Show No Support For Adamu over Ahmad Lawan

Is the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of its special convention and presidential primary election?  "No!" The All Progressives Congress Party (APC), refuted endorsing Ahmad Lawan The party said it aligns with the position of 13 of its governors from the North who have insisted on a power shift to the South. The Tinubu Campaign Organization  described Adamu’s  unilateral declaration as illegal, saying there are conditions precedent for any consensus arrangement to be legal. This according to the Vanguard news report; "The governors are angry because they had already taken a position and have also restated their position after wide consultations. Adamu took a unilateral decision which of course has been rejected by the NWC. So, the governors are meeting the NWC to formally convey their own position to the committee having earlier conveyed same to Mr President”, said a source close to one of ...

You And Your Health - Take A Walk For Better Health

Walking indeed is one of the best forms of exercise.  Your body will love it!  It is the perfect way to also rid yourself of daily stress. Benefits Of Walking: ● Walking will increase your energy level. ● Strengthen your bones and muscles. ● Walking will help you, maintain a healthy body weight. ● It can assist lower blood pressure. ● Walking will improve sleep. ● Walking also helps reduce your risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many types of cancer, ● Walking can help with depression and anxiety, and dementia.  ● Walking improves memory, mood and cognition. ● Walking improves posture and boosts balance plus coordination. ● Walking can assist to strengthen the immune system In a nutshell, walking is an excellent way to stay fit, and mentally alert.  Regular physical activity helps improve your overall health. Try walking for at least 30 minutes a day, yes you can, on most days of the week.  If trying to lose or control weight, in...

Major Hamza Al Mustapha-Boko Haram Will Cease In Six Months, As President

Major Hamza Al Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to late military Head of State General Sani Abacha is a presidential aspirant under the platform of Action Alliance, AA. Al Mustapha in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), said that if he becomes the President of Nigeria, the Boko Haram insurgency will end within six months.  "I swear if it is not possible to defeat terrorists in six months, I will demote all these senior officers and send them home, they will be prosecuted and must return the money given to them because I will probe them. “If I become the President I will live in Sambisa, I will stay there during weekends, and holidays and see if anything will touch me,” he said.