‘You Are Going Nowhere’ – ECOWAS Tells Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
- Rejects trio’s exit from sub-regional body
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) says no formal notification has been received from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso about their intention to quit the regional bloc.
Reacting to information that the military juntas from the three member states have decided to withdraw from ECOWAS with immediate effect, ECOWAS insisted that they remained important members of the Community and the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The body’s position of remaining committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse came on Sunday as the leaders of the three Sahel nations announced taking a sovereign decision to pull their countries out of ECOWAS.
A communique issued by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Sunday evening said it had been working with the three countries for the restoration of constitutional order.
The communique 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.”
Recalled that the three countries had pulled together a counterforce, the Alliance of Sahel States, against the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger.
This was in the wake of ECOWAS threatening military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power. However, the regime stood its ground with Mali and Burkina Faso vowing to join forces to fight in defence of the Niger Republic.
Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Quit ECOWAS
The military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect.
The three countries announced the development on Sunday, saying they had taken a sovereign decision to pull out their countries from ECOWAS.
Niger junta spokesman, Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in the statement announcing the decision that; “After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
“The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity”.
ECOWAS had suspended the three countries after the military took over the reins of power by ousting the democratically elected governments from office
