West Africa junta leaders withdraw from ECOWAS as tensions deepen

Three junta-led nations in West Africa are pulling out of the region’s political and economic bloc, further isolating their military regimes.

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in a joint statement Sunday said the Economic Community of West African States under the influence of “foreign powers” had become a “threat to its member states” and therefore decided to withdraw from the bloc with immediate effect.

The bloc had “failed to assist” the three countries, which are battling a sprawling Islamist insurgency, in their “existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali’s government spokesman said in a statement on state television.

ECOWAS said it remains committed to find a negotiated solution to the “political impasse”. The bloc hadn’t received the necessary one year notice from its three member states wishing to withdraw, it said in a statement.

The regional bloc has pushed for a return to civilian rule since military coups in all three nations, creating tension with military leaders. Last year, the three countries moved to create a new security alliance.

ECOWAS had been negotiating with Niger to return to democracy while Mali and Burkina Faso were scheduled to hold elections this year, according to agreements with the union, which introduced far-reaching economic and diplomatic sanctions in an attempt to convince the juntas to hand over power.