On January 30, local time, the African Union issued a statement calling on ECOWAS to hold dialogue with Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali to resolve the current differences.

Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali announced their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS on the 28th and issued a written notification to ECOWAS on the 29th. Earlier, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso following military coups in the three countries.

Ecowas was established in 1975 to strengthen regional integration and promote political, economic, social and cultural development and cooperation among member states.