The African Union expressed “deep regret” over the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS.
The AU said its commission president, Moussa Faki Mahamat, “calls on regional leaders to intensify the dialogue between the ECOWAS leadership and the three aforementioned countries,” who accused the West African bloc on Sunday of threatening their sovereignty.
The African Union Commission pledged to support fraternal discourse without foreign influence.
On Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahel states signed a statement stating that leaving the Economic Community of West African States was a “sovereign decision” that should be implemented “without delay.”
All three, who were founding members of the union in 1975, were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali suffering severe penalties as the bloc attempted to push for the early return of civilian governments through elections.
The sanctions were a “irrational and unacceptable posture” at a time when the three “have decided to take their destiny in hand”—a reference to the coups that overthrew civilian governments.
In recent months, the three nations have stiffened their positions and formed a “Alliance of Sahel States”.
ECOWAS stated that it has yet to receive formal communication from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic regarding their withdrawal from the Community.
The Commission stated that it has been “working assiduously with these countries to restore constitutional order”. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali are vital members of the Community, and the Authority is still committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political deadlock.”
“The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves,” the statement went on to say.