By Peter Ekeh
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has reacted to the media report of withdrawal of membership by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic, saying it was yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three Member-States about their intention to quit the regional bloc.
The juntas in Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso had on Sunday announced the immediate withdrawal of their membership from ECOWAS in protest to their suspension from the regional bloc following coup d’etats in their countries.
The leaders of the three West African countries issued a statement on Sunday, saying it was their “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.
Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had running battles with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger on July 26, 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
All three were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.
However, in a communique issued by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Sunday evening, the body said it had been working assiduously with the three countries for restoration of constitutional order, while insisting that Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remained important members of the Community and the Authority of Heads of State and Government remained committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.
