Ecowas risks disintegration if Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger leave - Omar Touray

The military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso say they are leaving Ecowas and forming a new alliance.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUK General ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWest African bloc risks 'disintegration' if juntas quit4 hours agoBy Chris Ewokor & Basillioh Rukanga, BBC News, Abuja and NairobiShareAFP"Our region is facing the risk of disintegration," said Ecowas commission head Omar TourayThe West African bloc Ecowas has warned that it risks disintegration and worsened insecurity after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formalised their breakaway union.

The head of the Ecowas commission said the move was a major blow to the 50-year-old bloc and could have serious consequences if they do not reverse their decision.

It comes after the military leaders of the three countries said on Saturday that they were "irrevocably" turning their backs on the 15-member Ecowas to form a confederation of their own states.

The juntas came into power after a series of coups between 2020 and 2023, with Ecowas responding by imposing sanctions, demanding a quick restoration of civilian rule.

Ecowas even threatened to use military force, before backing down.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce782jzyl76o

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