Mali Explains Why It Requires Immediate Exit From ECOWAS
© AFP 2023 OUSMANE MAKAVELI
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On January 28, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali announced their withdrawal from the ECOWAS because it had failed to support the three states in their "existential fight against terrorism," underlining that the bloc had "betrayed its founding principles" under foreign influence, Mali's Government Spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga said.
To justify its recent decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Bamako referred to the sanctions imposed on Mali by the organization, as a press release published on Wednesday by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
"Neither its texts nor any other legal instrument of the organization provides for the closure of borders to a Member State," the statement said.
In addition, ECOWAS violated Mali's right of access to the sea and freedom of transit, as provided for in the UN Convention, underlined Mali in the press release.
“These serious failings committed by ECOWAS render the ECOWAS Treaty inoperative,” which is why Mali “is no longer bound by the deadline constraints [of exit, i.e. one year],” the document revealed.
Earlier, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told local media that the ECOWAS had become "a threat" to Sahel countries because the organization had adopted "coercive measures" that affected the population, even going so far as to "threaten military intervention."
Speaking of the economic consequences, Burkinabe officials said that the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the ECOWAS would result in an annual loss of at least $74 million for the bloc. Additionally, the organization will experience a decline in its geographic breadth, population, and collective GDP. They also emphasized that most of ECOWAS' natural resources are concentrated in the three leaving countries.
