The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently meeting at Nigeria’s capital, Abuja following the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic from the bloc.
The Foreign Affairs Ministers of the regional body will be discussing the bloc’s response to the membership withdrawal of the three members.
The ECOWAS meeting will also include the deliberation of the ongoing mass protest in Senegal, following the indefinite postponement of the presidential elections earlier slated for February 25 this month.
Commission President of the bloc, Alieu Touray, disclosed that the meeting will put the withdrawal of the three countries into consideration.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic had resolved to exit ECOWAS immediately, with an accusation that the bloc has become a threat to them.
The African Union (AU) has also expressed its regret over the membership withdrawal of the three Sahel Nations.
The statement was made by the AU president Moussa Faki Mahamat and released on its verified X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday.
According to Mahamat, the bloc feels “deep regret” over the quitting of the three countries from the bloc.