Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso out of ECOWAS

Why in news?

• Recently Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have formally separated themselves from (ECOWAS).
• These countries decided to exit ECOWAS after demanding the restoration of diplomatic rule.
• Power was seized by the military in Niger in 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020.
• After this, the relations between ECOWAS and these countries became tense.

ECOWAS:

• Full name- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Economic Community- West African countries
• Establishment- Year 1975
• Major objectives- Economic integration, diplomatic and political cooperation, maintaining security and peace, social and cultural development.
• Headquarters - Abuja (Nigeria)
• Member countries - 15
• Important initiatives - Collective security, free trade area, constitutional governance

Niger:

• Capital:  Niamey
• Geographical location: It is a landlocked country in West Africa.
• Shared borders: Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Mali and Burkina Faso
• Currency: CFA franc

Mali:

• Capital:  Bamako
• Geographical location:  Mali is a large country in West Africa.
• Shared borders with: Niger, Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Bissau, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire
• Currency: CFA franc

Burkina Faso :

• Capital: Ouagadougou
• Geographical location:  Burkina Faso is located in West Africa
• Shared borders with- Mali, Niger, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Benin
• Currency: CFA franc