On Sunday 28 January, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, announced they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately. All three countries, which were founding members of ECOWAS in 1975, are currently led by military officials..

Now this decision by the three countries, announced in a joint statement read out on Niger national television, is a blow to ECOWAS integration efforts after it suspended the three countries following military takeovers.

Relations between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and the regional bloc have deteriorated for months and this is the latest chapter of this story…

#ibrahimtraoré #ecowas #nigercoup