Abuja, Nigeria: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has responded to a surprise announcement broadcast on Malian and Nigerien national television, claiming the withdrawal of these countries along with Burkina Faso from the regional bloc.
While the statement raised concerns, the Commission emphasised that it has not yet received any official notification from the three member states regarding their intention to leave.
“The ECOWAS Commission, acting on the mandate of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been actively engaged with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in efforts to restore constitutional order.”
These countries have faced political crises in recent months, prompting ECOWAS to intervene and mediate solutions.
The Commission further reitrated that: “Despite the media announcement, the Commission maintains its stance that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain vital members of the Community. The Authority of Heads of State and Government remains committed to finding peaceful resolutions through dialogues and negotiations.
“The ECOWAS Commission continues to monitor the situation closely and will issue further updates as developments unfold.”
This response highlights the regional body’s efforts to maintain stability and unity within the West African bloc, even in the face of uncertainty and potential discord.
The trio had in a statement broadcast on television announced it withdrawal from the regional bloc.
Read the statement in full below:
Republic of Niger REPUBLIC OF NIGER Fraternity- Work-Progress Presidency of the Republic of Niger National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland JOINT COMMUNIQUE FROM BURKINA FASO ,THE REPUBLIC OF MALI AND THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER Eager to achieve integration between the States of the sub-region and driven by the ideals de of brotherhood, solidarity, mutual aid, peace and development, Their Excellencies General Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, General Moussa Traoré and Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountché, respectively Heads of State of Upper Volta (current Burkina Faso), Mali and Niger, created with twelve (12) of their peers, on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali and Niger note with much regret, bitterness and great disappointment that their Organization has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism . Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure. Indeed, the organization has not provided assistance to our States in the context of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity; worse, when these States decided to take their destiny into their own hands, it adopted an irrational and unacceptable posture by imposing illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own texts; all things which have further weakened populations already bruised by years of violence imposed by instrumentalized and remote-controlled terrorist hordes.
Republic of Niger EPURLIQ MOJ NGER Frateniy- Work – Progress Presidency of the Republic of Niger National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland Faced with this continuing situation, Their Excellencies, Captain lbrahim Traoré, Colonel Assimi Goita and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, respectively Heads of State of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, taking all their responsibilities in the face of history and responding to the expectations, concerns and aspirations of their populations, decide in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States. Done in Ouagadougou, Bamako and Niamey, January 28, 2024
@Summit Post News