Three countries hit by coups are leaving west Africa’s main bloc

“It’s a historicECOWAS ECOWASECOWAS decision!” said Sido Ibrahim as he celebrated in the streets of Niamey, Niger’s capital, after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger declared their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (), the region’s main bloc. “We are united and stronger than ever,” claimed Mr Ibrahim. Others were less happy. “Things really are falling apart!” wrote Comfort Ero, the head of Crisis Group, an international think-tank, on X. “This looks like an earthquake!”Founded in 1975, allows the free movement of its citizens between its 15 member countries and largely the free movement of goods. Yet it has been floundering since a spate of coups toppled the governments of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger. Each time, imposed sanctions and demanded elections. Yet the juntas flagrantly broke promises and cosied up to Russia. A return to democracy in the Sahel is now a distant dream. The damage goes wider still.