The military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect.
The three countries, which mulled a counter force, Alliance of Sahel States, against the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger, announced the development on Sunday.
ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had threatened a military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power.
But the regime stood its ground as Mali and Burkina Faso vowed to fight in defence of Niger.
On Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahel nations said they had taken a sovereign decision to pull out their countries from ECOWAS.
“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.
“The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Abdramane added.
All three were suspended from ECOWAS after military coups.
