Thousands of people in Niger and Burkina Faso gathered on Tuesday to show support for their countries’ planned withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is set to take effect on Wednesday.
The departure of these countries, alongside Mali, is causing division in the region and leaving ECOWAS’s future uncertain.
The three military-led governments officially informed ECOWAS in January 2024 of their decision to withdraw immediately, citing the organization’s close ties with France.
France has become a common adversary for these regimes, which are now seeking alliances with countries like Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Despite ECOWAS’s requirement for a one-year notice, the deadline for the withdrawal arrives on Wednesday.
The three nations have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
In Niger, thousands, led by military leaders, gathered in the capital, Niamey, before marching toward the national assembly.
They expressed hostility toward French President Emmanuel Macron and leaders from countries with strained relations with Niger, such as Benin, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast.
“We announced our exit from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, and many doubted our decision, thinking we would reverse it,” said Ibro Amadou Bacharou, chief of staff to Niger’s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani. “Today, that ends—there is no longer anything between ECOWAS and us,” he added.
In Burkina Faso, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo joined thousands in Ouagadougou’s Nation Square for a rally, where protesters carried banners reading “Long live AES, down with ECOWAS” and “Goodbye ECOWAS, long live free AES.” Some also waved flags from the three Sahel nations or Russia.
“To sever ties with imperialism… will not be done gently but with an axe,” Ouedraogo declared.
Rallies were also expected in Mali.
The three countries are set to introduce their own common passport and have announced plans to create a unified 5,000-strong army to combat jihadism.
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