Burkina withdrawal from ECOWAS: Captain Ibrahim Traore confirms

This Monday, January 29, the authorities of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger caught the international public by surprise. Indeed, the three Sahelian countries, founding members of the Sahel States Alliance (AES), notified their withdrawal from ECOWAS with immediate effect.

This announcement comes as Ouagadougou, Niamey, and Bamako maintain extremely tense relations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The three nations, currently led by military leaders, are under various levels of sanctions from ECOWAS. In a recent media interview with journalist Alain Foka, Captain Ibrahim Traore confirmed Burkina Faso's exit. When asked if there is a chance for Burkina Faso to rejoin ECOWAS, Captain Ibrahim Traore responded in the negative. "No, it's over!" stated the head of the Burkinabe transitional government. Captain Traore indicated that the next likely step would be the formal withdrawal from The CFA franc. In a statement, the sub-regional institution mentioned that it had not been formally notified in writing of the three countries' intention to leave its space.

It is important to note that the withdrawal process from ECOWAS follows a specific procedure, which has not been followed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. By deciding to withdraw from the organization, these three countries will undoubtedly have to face certain consequences. ECOWAS is not just a political entity, it has successfully implemented innovative mechanisms to promote socio-economic and cultural integration among the peoples of West Africa. Despite its shortcomings, ECOWAS remains a true model of integration among the peoples of the region.