Ecowas crisis: West African states approve exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will leave the Ecowas group in January but have six months to return.

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Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger plan to withdraw from Ecowas in January after refusing the bloc's demand to restore democratic rule.

This is the first time any country has left Ecowas since it was established in 1975 to improve economic and political integration in West Africa.

The three departing countries were founding members so this is a huge blow to what was Africa's most developed trade grouping.

Citizens of all Ecowas countries currently have the right to live and work in all member states, while goods can circulate freely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp31lny4jweo

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