Defiance Unveiled: Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso's Bold Exit from ECOWAS

Defiance Unveiled: Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso's Bold Exit from ECOWAS

 In a stunning move, the governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso declared their immediate disengagement from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday.

They pointed to the inequity of sanctions levied by ECOWAS against each nation in response to military coups taking control.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a proclamation affirming that their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) constitutes a "sovereign decision" to be swiftly executed.

They expressed,

"After a span of 49 years, the resilient populations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger ruefully and with considerable dismay note that the (ECOWAS) organization has deviated from the principles of its founding visionaries and the essence of Pan-Africanism." "The organization notably faltered in aiding these states in their existential struggle against terrorism and insecurity." Confronting jihadist aggression and economic hardship, the administrations have sustained tense relations with ECOWAS since coups transpired in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020.

All three nations faced suspension from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali enduring substantial penalties. In response, they have fortified their positions in recent months, coalescing under an "Alliance of Sahel States."

Emergence of military administrations in Africa Since 2020, there has been a surge in military coups across the continent, reminiscent of the convulsions experienced in the 1960s. To date, approximately seven coups have been documented, impacting nations like Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome, Cape Verde, and Angola, among others, totaling over half a dozen since 2020. The military takeover of power in Niger last July appears to be the pivotal moment, prompting African leaders and international allies to denounce the coup and issue warnings of employing force to restore constitutional order and President Bazoum's government. The leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have been cultivating close affiliations with Russia, witnessing its influence in the region expand significantly following the West's severance of ties with the military regimes. Russia's Wagner forces have been observed combating terrorism across the Sahel, and Moscow has pledged collaboration with these nations in fields such as agriculture, security, and energy.