From Moshood karim
Three West African nations – Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso – have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The nations accused the regional bloc of becoming a threat to its members and failing to support their fight against terrorism and insecurity. The strained ties between the countries and ECOWAS have been growing since military power grabs took place in the nations in recent years.
The three countries have joined forces in the so-called “Alliance of Sahel States” to tackle the rise of violent armed groups in their countries. The French military withdrawal and economic sanctions on already fragile economies have heightened concern that armed groups could spread southwards towards the relatively stable coastal countries of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast.
The region has seen more than 1,800 attacks in the first six months of 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths and creating dire humanitarian consequences.
However, ECOWAS said in a Communique on Sunday that it has not received any direct formal notification of withdrawal from the affected nations. read the statement below:
