Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Appolinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tambela, stated that the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the West African bloc ECOWAS is a “carefully considered decision.” He mentioned that the withdrawal is in response to the countries’ hopes for “total sovereignty,” reflecting the legitimate expectations and concerns of the people.
The three countries, founding members of ECOWAS, were suspended from the bloc following military coups that overthrew elected civilian governments.
The decision to leave ECOWAS was preceded by an in-depth analysis of the institution’s functioning and potential consequences of withdrawal.
The prime minister criticized ECOWAS for its perceived indifference to the countries’ problems and emphasized their commitment to creating a viable, resilient economic space in alignment with the true aspirations of their populations. ECOWAS has expressed a desire for a negotiated solution to the political impasse with the withdrawing nations.
