Some civil society organisations have said the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) poses a significant security threat.
The three countries had on Sunday announced their exit from the ECOWAS due to what they called illegal and inhumane sanctions imposed on them following the coups in their countries.
The regional bloc, chaired by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, had said it had yet to receive any notification of withdrawal from the three countries.
It specifically said Mali and Niger were critical in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, given their geographic positioning and the nature of cross-border security threats.
The CSOs reminded the president that ECOWAS had long been a platform for political dialogue, conflict resolution, and the promotion of democratic principles, adding that the departure of these three states weakens this platform, potentially leading to a reduced capacity for collective action and a diminished global voice for the region
