The reason for the move was that ECOWAS was under the influence of foreign powers, which threatened the ECOWAS member states. ECOWAS countries also imposed irrational and illegal sanctions that violated their own principles, it said.
There was a military coup in Niger on July 26th, whereupon ECOWAS imposed sanctions and threatened military action. The neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali are also ruled by the military after government overthrows and are suspended from ECOWAS. In September, the three governments came together to form an alliance of the Sahel states. The agreement makes it possible to provide mutual military assistance. It is also about taking joint action against “terror groups” and securing the country’s borders.
Despite several attempts to negotiate the readmission of the coup countries into the economic community, relations between ECOWAS and the three military governments have continued to deteriorate.
ECOWAS consists of 15 member states, making it one of the largest regional economic communities in Africa. Its aim is to promote economic cooperation between member states in order to raise living standards. Since the military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and most recently Niger, relations with the three countries have been very tense. They are increasingly turning to Russia.
