By Rose Okereke
On Sunday, when the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), many may have wondered why the joint decision.
Facts show that the decision to withdraw from ECOWAS at the same time may not be a coincidence as the three countries are linked by many factors.
The factors that unite Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic are:
Connected by borders:
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic border each other on different sides. From each of the countries, there is access to the other by land. Burkina Faso is bordered by Mali on the northwest and Niger Republic on the northwest.
*Colonised by France:*
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic were, at different times, colonised by the same people. In the scramble for Africa, France took control of the three countries and colonised them.
*Joind by the same faith: Islam:*
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic are predominantly Muslims, who constitute more than half of the population of each country.
*Ruled by military governments:*
The three countries are under military rule since 2020. Although earlier under democracy, the three nations, one after another, were taken over by military junta. It started in Mali in 2020 when Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of a military group, National Committee for the Salvation of the People, took over government. Burkina Faso followed suit in 2022 when Captain Ibrahim Traore seized power. Niger Republic was the last in 2023 as Captain Abdourahamane Tchiani, former head of the presidential guards, ousted the elected president.
*All military leaders are of lower rank:*
In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic, all the military rulers are of lower ranks. While it was fashionable in the past for top military officers to take over government, the three countries are ruled by officers of lower ranks. The military ruler in Mali is a Colonel, while Burkina Faso and Niger Republic are being ruled by Captains.
