Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger accused a regional bloc known as ECOWAS of having double standards in punishing their military juntas. Negotiations failed to change their minds.

The three junta-led West African nations withdrawal is the culmination of a yearlong process during which the grouping tried to avert its unprecedented disintegration.

Thousands of people rallied Tuesday in Niger and Burkina Faso in support of the withdrawal of their countries from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, which is due to take effect today.

Junta-led countries Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso officially left West Africa's main political and trade group ECOWAS on Wednesday after more than a year of diplomatic tensions.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), marking a

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member states not to close their doors to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which recently exited the bloc .

Thousands of people rallied in junta-led Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali on Tuesday to back their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, due to take

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially recognised the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional body.

The Sahel region is a geographical belt in Africa that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, between the Sahara Desert in the north and the Savannah in the south. It is characterised by challenging environmental crises and conflicts.

France has handed over its last military base in Chad to local authorities. The move on Thursday came two months after the former French colony in central Africa broke off its defense cooperation agreement with Paris.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has initiated the post-exit dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which will determine the new relationship between the rest of the region with the trio.