Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Left ECOWAS | 31 Jan 2025

The West African nations of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States, seeking military support from Russia and distancing themselves from the US and France.
- The Sahel is a semiarid region (western and north-central Africa), a transitional zone between the Sahara desert (north) and humid savannas (south).
About ECOWAS:
- It is a regional group of 15 West African countries (before withdrawal), founded in 1975 with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos (Nigeria).
- It is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria and aims to promote economic integration and shared development of the West African sub-region.
- It established its free trade area in 1990 and adopted a common external tariff in 2015.
- A peacekeeping force was sent to Liberia in 1990 during its civil war and to Sierra Leone in 1997 after the government was overthrown.
- Mauritania withdrew in 2000 but rejoined as an associate member in 2017.