The recent withdrawals of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS have plunged the organization into a state of crisis. ECOWAS, tasked with addressing coup incidents and ensuring the equitable distribution of resources, has faced mounting challenges in recent times. Last year, the regional bloc’s court ruled against the legitimacy of juntas to govern in lieu of elected administrations. Notably, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formed a security alliance and severed military ties with European nations, seeking support from Russia instead. In a joint statement issued late January, the military administrations in these three nations accused ECOWAS of imposing punitive sanctions aimed at reversing recent coups, labeling them as inhumane measures.

Source: Front Page Africa February 23, 2024 14:41 UTC