Tinubu, ECOWAS Heads Fight Back, Move To Stop Niger, Bukina Faso, Mali

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has made a swift move against Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after they withdrew from ECOWAS.

The Commission stated that it has not received any formal notification from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso regarding their intention to leave the regional bloc but insisted that they remain members of the community.

This comes after the military juntas of these three Member-States announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS following the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger. In response, ECOWAS, led by President Bola Tinubu, had threatened military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power.

In a communique issued by the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, the body clarified that it has been working with the three countries to restore constitutional order. It emphasized that Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso remain vital members of the Community, and the Authority of Heads of State and Government is committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.

The communique it issued earlier states, “The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three Member States about their intention to withdraw from the Community. 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.”