The withdrawal of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) members from ECOWAS is a "historic decision" that responds to the expectations and aspirations of the peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to achieve full sovereignty, Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela said in a televised address.
"On January 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger took the historic decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS]. It is a carefully considered decision taken after a thorough analysis of the institution and the possible consequences of withdrawal," Kyelem de Tambela noted.
He lamented that ECOWAS had become a "technocratic instrument, ultimately divorced from the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of West Africa."
"As proof, we have noted the indifference of ECOWAS when our valiant peoples were massacred, or when our fellow citizens endured the humanitarian crisis, or in the face of the numerous destabilization attempts that our states have faced," the prime minister stressed.
Kyelem de Tambela assured that under the AES, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will be able to create a "viable, sustainable and resilient" economic space.
The prime minister also called on the people of Burkina Faso to arm themselves with courage and strengthen the resilience they are already showing.
"No sacrifice is too great when it comes to our sovereignty and our freedom," he concluded.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 28. The three countries cited the regional bloc's failure to "provide assistance to our states in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity."
Mali and Burkina Faso subsequently gave the organization formal notice of their withdrawal.
The countries have had strained relations with ECOWAS since the military took power in Mali in 2020, in Burkina Faso in 2022 and in Niger in 2023. The organization has imposed harsh sanctions on the latter and threatened to use military force to reinstate Niger's ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. ECOWAS also suspended the three countries from its organization.