Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has decried the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The three nations, controlled by military regimes, said in a Sunday statement that it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the regional bloc “without delay”.
In the televised statement reported by the Associated Press (AP), they said the bloc has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment.
“Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure,” they said.
All three nations – founding members in 1975 – were suspended by ECOWAS following a fallout with the bloc over military coups in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
The three nations have since formed an “Alliance of Sahel States”.
Reacting in a Facebook post, Atiku expressed concern over the withdrawal of the three nations from ECOWAS, highlighting negative implications for security in West Africa.
He said, “Reports about the withdrawal of three countries from our sub-regional body, ECOWAS, is concerning.
“It is a matter of serious diplomatic meltdown.
“We must keep the country’s national security interest, especially the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others in focus while we appraise the situation.”