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 now formed their own confederation,

The memberships of the three West African countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been formally withdrawn from the 15-me

The departure of these three founding members from the bloc has fractured the region and is leaving the ECOWAS grouping with an uncertain future. The three countries have teamed up to form a separate confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

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

The withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, takes effect on Wednesday after a year of

This will happen on Wednesday, all three countries having ignored ECOWAS's call to extend the period by six months to try to find a solution.

The three junta-led West African nations, who have come together to form the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) after their coups, formally left the Economic Community of West African States, after a year of diplomatic moves to avert their withdrawal.

Three countries under military rule have officially left West African regional bloc Ecowas, after more than a year of diplomatic tensions. The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is a huge blow to Ecowas,

The junta-led West African nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have formally withdrawn from the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, the body said Wednesday, the culmination of a yearlong process during which the group tried to avert an unprecedented disintegration.