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The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced on Sunday their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS.
The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.
Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020
West African bloc – Basic details
The term "West African bloc" can refer to a couple of different things,
1. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):
This is the most common meaning of "West African bloc.
ECOWAS is a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located in West Africa.
It is to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc.
Founded in 1975
15 member countries
Population: over 424.34 million
Official languages: English, French, Portuguese
Currency: Various national currencies (although eight member countries use the CFA franc)
Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria
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