Three Sahel countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The decision, effective from January 28, affects around 73 million people, a significant portion of the region’s population.
In a joint statement, the countries stated that they are taking full responsibility for their decision, citing the ECOWAS’s alleged close ties with former colonial power France. The statement read: “We take full responsibility for our history and react to the expectations, concerns and aspirations of our populations and decide in full sovereignty to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States.”
ECOWAS, in a separate statement, confirmed the withdrawal, effective from January 29, 2025. The three countries have been critical of ECOWAS, accusing it of not providing sufficient support in the fight against Islamic extremist groups, which have been terrorizing the region since 2012.
The ECOWAS region will shrink by more than half, with only a small portion of its population and economic output remaining. The three countries have already set up an alternative alliance, the Sahel Alliance, with Russia as a key partner, following agreements in military, agricultural and educational cooperation.