Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger remain important members, we are yet to receive exit notice — ECOWAS

 The Economic Community of West African States Commission, or ECOWAS Commission, stated on Sunday that it has not yet received formal notice from Burkina Faso, Mali, or the Niger Republic regarding their resignation from the organization.

However, the Commission claimed in a statement on Sunday that it was made aware of the event when a statement announcing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger's decision to leave ECOWAS was aired on their national televisions.The three Member States have not yet given the Commission any direct formal notification of their decision to leave the Community, according to ECOWAS.

According to the statement, the ECOWAS Commission has been diligently collaborating with these nations to restore constitutional order, under the direction of the Authority of Heads of State and Government."Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso continue to be significant Community members, and the Authority is steadfast in its pursuit of a diplomatic resolution to the current political deadlock."The ECOWAS Commission remains concerned by developments and will issue more statements as circumstances change.

On Sunday, the leaders of the three Sahelian countries declared their intention to exit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with immediate effect. The three countries that were among the original members of the subregional organization in 1975 are today ruled by the military, who took control of them from civilian leaders at various points in the previous year. "After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism," said Amadou Abdramane of the Niger Republic, speaking on behalf of the three countries.

Recall that the three countries are currently under suspension imposes by the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of States following the coups

He disclosed that “The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity”.