NewsRescue
The military administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have declared their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stating that the regional grouping has become a vehicle for foreign forces, endangering member states.
The coup leaders announced their decision in a unified statement on Sunday, following rising pressure from ECOWAS to transition to democratic administration.
Following the ouster of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in July, the latest coup in the West African area, the bloc vowed to use force to restore democratic governance after several attempts to persuade military leaders to reverse the coup failed. Mali and Burkina Faso have both warned against France-backed military intervention in Niger, warning that such a move would be construed as an act of war against their respective nations.
The 15-nation economic union has sanctioned and suspended Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in retaliation to the takeovers. The coalition has stated that it does not recognise the military-led regimes and has vowed to no longer allow power grabs in the region, which has previously witnessed a successful coup in Guinea and a recent attempt
However, Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey have unified against ECOWAS, repeatedly accusing it of acting under Western influence. Late last year, the military rulers of the three former French colonies signed a charter that formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), committing to help each other, individually or collectively, in the event of an external attack or internal threats to their sovereignty. All three have also severed military ties with France, citing meddling and the failure of French troops to defeat Islamic insurgencies in the Sahel region, despite more than a decade of involvement.
On Sunday, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger denounced ECOWAS for failing to support them in fighting the region’s decade-long jihadist violence.
“When these states decided to take their destiny into their own hands, it [ECOWAS] adopted an irrational and unacceptable posture by imposing illegal, illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own principles,” the military leaders stated.
“After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali, and Niger note with great regret, bitterness, and great disappointment” in ECOWAS and have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal” from the bloc, according to the statement.