The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reacted to the reported withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic as members of the regional body.
This was disclosed in a communiqué issued by ECOWAS via its X handle on Sunday, January 28.
ECOWAS further stated in a communiqué that the commission has yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three member states about their intention to quit the regional bloc.
According to the ECOWAS commission, they got to know about the statement while it was being broadcast on the national televisions of Mali and Niger, announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.
Part of the statement read, “The ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the community, and the authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.”
“The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves.” It added.
ECOWAS, before the new development, had 15 member countries. And these include , Benin, Republic Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Republic Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo