West African Countries Withdraw from ECOWAS, Testing Regional Unity
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, led by military governments, have announced their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, accusing the regional bloc of becoming a threat to its members and failing to support their fight against terrorism and insecurity. The three countries have also cut military ties with France and joined forces in the "Alliance of Sahel States" to tackle the rise of violent armed groups in their countries. This move comes amid concerns about the impact of French military withdrawal and economic sanctions on already fragile economies, as well as the potential spread of armed groups towards stable coastal countries in West Africa.