Ime Akpan
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic yesterday announced their pulling out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alleging that the regional bloc had moved away from the ideals of Pan-Africanism and it is now “under the influence of foreign powers.”
In a joint communiqué read on the national television of each of the countries, the trio, currently ruled by the military also noted with “great regret, bitterness and great disappointment” that the organisation had jettisoned the ideals of its founding fathers, betrayed its founding principles and now becoming “a threat to its member states.”
“Eager to achieve integration between the States of the sub-region and driven by the ideals of fraternity, solidarity, mutual aid, peace and development, their Excellencies, Gen. Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, Gen. Moussa Traoré, and Lieutenant – Colonel Seyni Kountché, respectively, Heads of State of Upper Volta (current Burkina Faso), Mali and Niger, created with 12 of their peers, on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, the Economic Community of States of West Africa (ECOWAS).
“After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali and Niger note with great regret, bitterness and great disappointment that their organisation has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and from Pan-Africanism.
“Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations, whose happiness it is supposed to ensure,” the communiqué said.
The trio further said the regional economic bloc failed to provide assistance to them as part of our existential fight against terrorism and worse insecurity.
“When these states decided to take their destiny into their own hands, it adopted an irrational and unacceptable method by imposing illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own texts.
“All these have further weakened populations already bruised by years of violence imposed by exploited terrorist hordes and remotely controlled.
“Faced with this continuing situation, Their Excellencies, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, Col. Assimi Goïta and Brig.- Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, respectively, Heads of State of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, taking all their responsibilities in the face of history and responding to the expectations, concerns and aspirations of their populations, decide in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States,” the statement added.
Reacting to the withdrawal of the three French-speaking West African countries from its fold, ECOWAS said in a statement that it was yet to receive a formal letter stating the exit of the countries from the sub-regional body.
“The attention of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) has been drawn to a statement broadcast on the national televisions of Mali and Niger announcing the decision of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.
“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 commission said in a statement.
It further said: “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.”
Before the countries’ withdrawal, the 15-member economic group was Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
