The three military -dominated nations said on Wednesday that they had officially withdrawn from the West African Alliance, known as ECOWAS, that they had denied the pressure from the group to democracy.
Alliance is an economic community in West African countries, providing members traveling without visa, advantageous trade duties, and $ 700 billion in the area of 400 million people in the region. Three Renations -Burkina Faso, Mari, and Niger have announced their intention to retire last year.
Later, the negotiations between their leaders and blocks failed to reach the agreement to maintain them. Instead, the three Gentas set up a military power, creating a unique group, the Sahel state alliance, and the AES alliance with the French initials. 5,000 units.
The three Gentas presented their exit that they were essential for their sovereignty, and depicted the alliance as a newly -planted basis to carry out foreign agenda.
“The same is true for Eco Was and Jihadists,” said Mari's President Assei Gota, on January 10, unstable the vast area of Sahel, a dry belt that extends to the coast. I mentioned the extremists. “The only difference is that some people carry weapons, while others are not.”
Their withdrawal weakened ECOWAS, celebrating the 50th year of this year, and found 16 members. Currently 12: Mauritania remains in 2000. Burkinafaso, Mali, and Niger are not the most popular countries in the region or the economically powerful country, but accounts for more than half of the alliance, 1.9 million square miles, and 17 % of 400 million people. population.
The Alliance stated in a statement that Gentas would leave the door open to return.
However, according to analysts, three exit countries suffer the most high prices, lack of food supply, and political isolation.
Niger share a 1,000 -miles of borders with Nigeria, relying on 80 % of the trade to neighboring neighbors. The relationship has been nervous in the last few months. Niger accuses the president's current chairman of Ecoas, Nigeria, and the Jihadist Group to attack it.
According to a recent report of the global terrorism index, Mari, Niger, and Burkina Faso accounted for half of the deaths related to terrorism in the world, overtaking the Middle East last year and becoming a global epicenter of terrorism. Part of the military government used anxiety as a legitimacy to seize power, despite the increase in attacks under their control.
ECOWAS responds to coups by chewing economic sanctions and threatens military intervention to restore the rule of Niger civilians. However, it was accused of having a double standard by postponing elections and changing the national constitution and maintaining the government. 。
The coup waves have been attacking Africa in recent years, and there are nine military acquisitions from 2020 to 2023, and are not seen in decades. Most of them are in West Africa.
In Burkina Faso, Mari, and Niger, Gentas refused to succumb to the demands of handing over the power of Ecoas. The sanctions supported by the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States were ultimately lifted, and the alliance tried to dialogue with three countries, but the military government was not persuaded.
Fahiraman Rodrigekone, a Sahel project manager at the Security Laboratory, a local think tank, said, “They not only decide how to operate their own country or forced elections. I think on the phone. ” Interview.
The three gathers have recently cut off their relationships with their major traditional partners, end their military cooperation between France and the United States, and maximize income from the economy of the disease. I imposed tax.
They have strengthened their cooperation with Russia. Russia offers weapons and Mercc soldiers. According to local media, China has implemented a mining project that was previously managed by Western companies, and China has secured a new contract to supply weapons. The state -run media said that Turkey, which provides himself as an alternative, is providing drones and MERC soldiers to Niger.
On Tuesday, the protest took him to the roadside of the three exit countries to celebrate the withdrawal. However, analysts said that most of these countries did not support the Justus decision to leave.
“The critical voice is suppressed,” said Jiruabi, the founder and executive director of the West African think tank.
According to the rights organizations, in three countries, the situation of human rights has deteriorated rapidly, and thousands of civilians were killed last year by military and national support.
However, the government's administration has not been a little isolated recently. Ghana's new president has appointed a special messenger to a new alliance, indicating that Togo could apply for membership.
