Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Form New Regional Alliance - Android Pols
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| Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Form New Regional Alliance |
Tensions escalated between ECOWAS and these three nations following military coups in Niger (July), Burkina Faso (2022), and Mali (2020). ECOWAS consistently called for their return to civilian rule.
The junta-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have recently solidified plans to establish a confederation, signaling a departure from their former colonial ruler, France, in favor of forging closer ties with Russia. Their foreign ministers convened in Niger's capital, Niamey, to finalize the text that establishes the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
These three nations assert that their decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a matter of sovereignty. Interestingly, they were also among the founding members of ECOWAS, which was originally established in 1975.
In a joint statement broadcasted by state media in all three countries, they criticized ECOWAS for having "drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism." The statement further contends that ECOWAS, influenced by foreign powers, has betrayed its foundational principles and now poses a threat to member states and their citizens. Specifically, the bloc has failed to effectively address the jihadist violence plaguing their respective countries.
Tensions escalated between ECOWAS and these three nations following military coups in Niger (July), Burkina Faso (2022), and Mali (2020). ECOWAS consistently called for their return to civilian rule.
In an effort to reintegrate them into the regional bloc, ECOWAS has gradually lifted most of the sanctions previously imposed on Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Notably, ECOWAS has expressed its willingness to allow the trio to form a new group. Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security within ECOWAS, emphasized this during a program focused on regional defense and security perspectives. While acknowledging other smaller groups within ECOWAS, Musah underscored that the trio could establish their new alliance while remaining part of the larger ECOWAS community.
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