What changes will happen when Mali and Niger leave West Africa Group?

After more than a year of diplomatic tensions, the three countries under military rule have officially left the West African Group.

The evacuation of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger has caused a huge blow to ECOWAS. Ecowas is considered to be the most important region of Africa.

After the three countries that leaving the country refused to restore diplomatic rule required the restoration of diplomatic rule, this division was triggered.

Ecowas said on Wednesday that even if they have established their own group Sahel States' Alliance (AES as AS as AS), it will still keep “open the door” for Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

ECOWAS represented the economic community of West African countries-established in 1975, the purpose is to improve the economic and political integration of West Africa.

Before the reorganization of Wednesday, the group had 15 members, including Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

At present, citizens of all ECOWAS countries have the right to live and work in all member states, and goods can be freely circulated.

Since the military seized the power in Niger in 2023, the relationship between ECOWAS and the three Sahele countries has been nervous, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.

After the Niger coup, Ecowas imposed serious sanctions on the country, such as the border closure, the freezing area of ​​all commercial flights, and the frozen assets of the central bank.

Ecowas also threatened to deploy its troops to Niger to restore democratic rule.

However, this hard line just strengthened the determination of the three governments.

Mali and Burkina Faso criticized ECOWAS's “inhumane” sanctions and vowed to defend Niger if collectively intervene in military.

After being suspended by Ecowas, the three states issued a notice in January last year that they will withdraw troops within one year to meet the timetable set by the group to decide to leave.

Since then, Ecowas and Jilas have negotiated-but failed.

These three countries accused ENATIONS too close to Western powers, but rotated to Russia.

According to the departure country, they will now suffer greater sovereignty and leave the troops with foreign agenda.

But analysts said that Niger, Maria and Bikina Faso may struggle outside the group-these are poverty and inland countries, and their economy depends on neighbor West Africa.

Although ECOWAS clarifies its terms with the future relationship with the three countries, it will continue to acknowledge that all passports and ID cards are mali, Niger and Burkina Faso citizens.

These countries will also stay in the group's free trade plan.

Similarly, AES Chairman Maria's military ruler AmiMigoïta said last January that the Ecowas citizen of the new group had the right to “enter, cycle, live, establish and leave territory.”

Ilyasu Gadu, an international affairs expert and media consultant of Nigerian capital Abuja, told the Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “The three government organization leaders have taken the steps and said:” Yes, we are exiting Ecowas, but we want to maintain us. We will keep our relationship with interpersonal relationships.

Observer of West Africa is also worried that withdrawal will exacerbate the security of the region. Sahel -The semi -arid area south of the Sahara Desert, including three departure countries -suffered the predicament of the jihad rebellion, now accounted for almost half of all the deaths of terrorism in the world, UN senior officials said in AprilEssence

Observer is worried that ECOWAS is supporting the struggle between Maria, Burkina Faso and Niger, but now it may cancel this help.

Although the military government has now obtained weapons and mercenaries from Russia, militants continue to cause heavy casualties to civilians and armed forces.

ECOWAS will lose 76 million of its 446 million people, with a total geographical land area of ​​more than half.

I am also worried that the evacuation will weaken regional unity and cooperate in the crackdown on rebellion.

The split “exacerbated a legitimate ring Enatic crisis, which usually makes people's expectations in maintaining the rule of law.” Associated PressEssence

“The three poorest members of the members decided to leave the group to make it look more like a loser in this conflict in the eyes of their citizens.”

On Tuesday, some people who left the capital of the national capital celebrated the withdrawal on the street.

But not everyone supports the government's decision.

Omar Hama from Niger said that he hoped that the three countries would still stay in ECOWAS and belong to AES.

He said to the Broadcasting Corporation: “I hope they overcome their differences because we have a common space, people with historical similarities and the same economic reality.”

Fatouma Harber, a reporter and blogger who lived in Mali, is worried that this change may eventually bring administrative and economic distress to her and other citizens of the three countries.

She said: “However, if the Sahele's Alliance (AES) can indeed bring us benefits, it will be a good thing.”

Zabeirou ISSA, who lives in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has taken a stronger position. He said: “Ecowas has no power, and Westerners have decided to Ecowas leaders. Yes, I am for this. I am very happy when I decide. “

Cisse Kabore's capital Ouagadougou in the capital of Burkina told BBC that she hoped that her country would stay in ECOWAS because the region is now “no longer united as before.”

Last month, Ecowas said that this would cause Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to re -consider the six -month width of the withdrawal for them.

However, at the press conference on Wednesday, Omar Alieu Touray, director of the Ecowas Committee, said: “Any state can decide to return to the community at any time.”

In order to consolidate their exports from Ecowas and consolidate their alliances, the three countries said that they will start new AES passports on Wednesday.

They also decided to unite to create a 5,000 military forces to fight against violence that has troubled many years.