Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso announce withdrawal from ECOWAS
Al JazeeraFEB 1 2024
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Withdraw From ECOWAS
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This ill-considered move by these three countries demonstrates their preference for populist measures over a return to the rule of law. Although they have the right to criticize France and other colonial powers, their hypocritical turn to Russia as an ally is putting the region and world at greater risk.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's ECOWAS's fault these countries have made this decision. ECOWAS has failed to fulfill its founding mandate and find diplomatic solutions to a multitude of existing regional problems. Instead, the organization has turned into a tool of foreign interests to reinstate "democratic" puppet governments that fail at combating Islamist threats.