Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Move Towards Union

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali announced on Thursday that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, countries governed by military regimes, intend to proceed with the establishment of a union. The Malian Foreign Ministry stated in an online post that the three countries "confirmed their commitment to decisively advance in the implementation of the Sahel Alliance and the creation of a union among the three nations." This development comes as the three countries strengthen their relationships through an alliance that threatens the integrity of the larger West African region. In January, the neighboring countries in the impoverished Sahel region announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a decision that the group urged them to reconsider, warning of additional difficulties arising from this withdrawal. During a meeting in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, three ministers from these countries reaffirmed their joint commitment to withdraw from ECOWAS without delay and to continue cooperation under an agreement known as the Sahel Alliance.