ASS Countries Reaffirm Decision to Leave ECOWAS
The Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) has reaffirmed its decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
ASS is a confederation formed between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso following a defence pact that was created in 2023. According to the group, the decision to separate from ECOWAS is final.
This was in a statement, issued after a meeting of ministers from ASS countries. The ministers in the joint statement instructed the interdisciplinary commissions to continue the work to determine the withdrawal modalities in the interest of the people of the confederation.
The development comes after the foreign affairs ministers of ASS countries announced the irreversibility of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS during the closing of the ministerial council of the association in Abuja, Nigeria.
Despite this, the meeting participants decided to seek, through diplomatic channels, the return of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to the organization. The move is seen as an attempt to maintain regional cooperation and stability.
The decision by the ASS countries to leave ECOWAS has significant implications for regional integration and cooperation. ECOWAS has been a key player in promoting economic development and stability in West Africa, and the withdrawal of these countries may impact the organisation’s effectiveness.
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