Foreign ministers from member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened on Wednesday in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to address the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from the regional bloc, and to assess the broader political and security implications.

According to an official statement released by the bloc on Tuesday, the meeting focuses on outlining the principles and procedures surrounding the exit of the three nations, and the impact this move may have on ECOWAS institutions and operations in those countries.

The ministers are also discussing the future of ECOWAS activities and agencies in the withdrawing countries, along with regional cooperation mechanisms and strategies to maintain stability and combat insecurity in the increasingly volatile Sahel region.

On January 28, 2024, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali jointly announced their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, accusing the organization of failing to support their fight against terrorist groups operating across the Sahel.

The unprecedented withdrawal poses a serious challenge to the unity of the bloc, which was founded in 1975, and comes at a time when West Africa faces growing political and security threats.