Bamako, Mali

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on Sunday (Jan 28) announced that they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect, stating it has become a threat to member states.

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Issuing a statement, the leaders of the three Sahel nations said that it was a "sovereign decision" to withdraw from the West African bloc "without delay".

The decision by the countries was announced in a joint statement read out on Niger national television.

The military leaders further argued that they wanted to restore security in their respective countries before organising elections.

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"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 the statement.

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They also accused the 15-member grouping of not being able to contribute to their fight against insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

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"The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity," Abdramane added.

ECOWAS says ready for 'negotiated solution' 

After Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal, ECOWAS released a statement on Sunday (Jan 28) saying that it was ready for "a negotiated solution".

The three countries are "important members of the Community" and the bloc "remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse", said ECOWAS.

It further added that it had "yet to receive any direct formal notification" from the countries about their exit.  

Struggling to contain jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had strained ties with ECOWAS, especially after the military coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020 respectively.

The three nations were then suspended from the West African bloc with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.

They have toughened their stance in recent months and joined forces in an "Alliance of Sahel States".

France in September withdrew its troops from the Sahel region, situated along the Sahara desert across Africa, intensified concerns over the conflicts extending southward to the Gulf of Guinea states of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.

(With inputs from agencies)