The leadership of Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso on Sunday declared their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the bloc of drifting from its purpose.
The three West African countries are led by junta which ousted the democratic leadership of their respective countries over allegations of corrupt practices.
The countries had been suspended by the West African bloc currently chaired by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and are under serious economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS pending their return to democracy.
“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,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Niger junta spokesman, said in a joint statement broadcast on national television.
He claimed that ECOWAS notably failed to assist their states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity.
The development is in flagrant disregard of ECOWAS which had set a timeline for restoration to democracy in those countries
