The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission) says it is yet to receive a formal notification from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso about their intention to quit the regional bloc.
It was reacting after the military juntas from the three Member-States withdrew from ECOWAS with immediate effect. The three countries, which mulled a counter force, Alliance of Sahel States, against the regional bloc after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger, announced the development on Sunday.
ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had thr£at£ned military action if the Niger junta refused to transfer power. But the regime stood its ground as Mali and Burkina Faso vowed to fight in defence of Niger. On Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahel nations said they had taken a sovereign decision to pull out their countries from ECOWAS.