On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expressed readiness for “a negotiated solution” following the announcements of withdrawal from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
In an official statement, ECOWAS acknowledged the significance of these countries as “important members of the community” and affirmed its commitment to finding a negotiated resolution to the political impasse.
The regional bloc clarified that it had not yet received any direct formal notification from the three nations regarding their withdrawal. The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger issued a joint statement on Sunday, declaring their departure from ECOWAS as a “sovereign decision” to be executed “without delay.”
The strained relationship between the Sahel nations and ECOWAS has been evident since coups occurred in Niger in July 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020.
These countries, grappling with challenges such as jihadist violence and poverty, have faced tense ties with the regional body. ECOWAS now navigates the need for diplomatic resolutions amid the complex geopolitical landscape in West Africa.
