BY JONES HAYDEN |West African countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger said on Sunday that they are withdrawing from the ECOWAS regional economic bloc, accusing the group of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. All three countries, which were founding members of ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, are currently led by militaries that seized power from civilian leaders. France withdrew its troops from Niger in late 2023 after the coup in that country last summer. Considered West Africa’s top political and regional authority, the 15-nation ECOWAS — formed in 1975 to “promote economic integration” in member countries — has struggled in recent years to reverse rampant coups in the region. The countries have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020Read more of this reportVisited 14 times, 2 visit(s) today

Source: GNN Liberia January 29, 2024 04:18 UTC