Lakes:
The countries led by the Mali Board, Niger and Burkina Faso officially abandoned the main political and commercial group of Western Ecowas Africa on Wednesday after more than a year of diplomatic tensions.
The withdrawal has shaken the economic community of the states of Western Africa that many consider the most important regional group on the continent and that this year marks its 50th anniversary.
His leadership said in a statement that the group “would maintain the doors of open Ecowas” to the three countries, but their departure has left the future uncertain of the organization.
The rupture was caused by the coup d’etat of July 2023, after military leaders in Burkina and Mali had also seized power since 2020.
Ecowas threatened to intervene militarily in Niger to restore the deposed president and impuse strong economic sanctions to Niamey, who have now risen.
The three countries, which were founding members of Ecowas, announced in January 2024 that planned to retire immediately, but the rules of the organization required one year notice to enter into force.
Their military rulers accused the Ecowa of imposing “inhuman, illegal and illegitimate” sanctions.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have now formed their own confederation, the alliance of the Sahel states (AES).
The Ecowas statement asked member countries to recognize “even more notification” the passports of the three countries that carry the Ecowas logo.
He said that the citizens of the three countries should “continue enjoying the right of visa free movement, residence and establishment according to Ecowas protocols” until a new decision is made.
The assets and services of the three will also be treated in line with the rules of the CEDEAS until the Western Africa group decides its “future commitment” to all three, he added.
Military leaders in the states of Sahel accuse Ecowas of not helping them fight jihadist uprisings in their countries and being too close to France, the old colonial power in the region.
The three have largely cut their security ties with France and have turned to Russia, Iran and Türkiye to get help.
In a sign of doubts within Ecowas, Togo and Ghana have normalized their relations with the three states and the new president of Ghana, John Mahama, has appointed a special envoy of the Sahel Alliance
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