The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) takes effect on Wednesday after a year of political tensions, fracturing the region and leaving the bloc with an uncertain future.
On January 29, 2024, the three countries led by military regimes formally notified ECOWAS of their desire for “immediate” withdrawal. But the texts of the West African organisation required one-year’s notice for it to be effective.
This will happen on Wednesday, all three countries having ignored ECOWAS’s call to extend the period by six months to try to find a solution.
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. ECOWAS, they argue, is subservient to their former colonial ruler France.
Paris has become the common enemy of these juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.
