Three West African states ruled by military leaders have announced visa-free travel and residency rights for citizens in the 15-member regional bloc ECOWAS, ahead of the trio leaving the group.
The leaders of the states - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - said the visa and residency decision had been taken in the spirit of friendship, and to strengthen centuries-old ties among African people.
The trio plan to withdraw from ECOWAS in January after refusing the bloc’s demand to restore democratic rule.
ECOWAS leaders are meeting in Nigeria to discuss the decision, with fears their withdrawal would be a major blow to regional unity and efforts to boost economic and security cooperation.
At the opening of the summit, ECOWAS commission head Omar Touray said their “impending exit” was “disheartening”, but he wanted to “commend the ongoing mediation efforts”, AFP news agency reported.
After a ministerial-level meeting on Friday in Niger’s capital, Niamey, the three states said in a joint statement that their decision was “irreversible”. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were founding members of ECOWAS in 1975.
