Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Officially Exit ECOWAS, Form Sahel Alliance

The three nations aim for greater autonomy and cooperation through their newly established Alliance of Sahel States, distancing themselves from Western influence.

The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) was finalized after a year-long process.
The three nations, governed by military juntas, have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to pursue shared security, economic, and infrastructure goals.
The AES views ECOWAS as a tool of former colonial powers, particularly France, and seeks to position itself as an anti-Western bloc with closer ties to Russia.
The departure shrinks ECOWAS by over half its geographic area and raises concerns about regional economic and security cooperation, particularly in border zones.
Millions of migrant workers from the three countries face uncertainty as new trade and travel restrictions may emerge between AES and ECOWAS nations.