Military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso rule out returning to the ECOWAS regional bloc

Associated Press

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Military junta leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have ruled out returning their nations to the West Africa regional bloc whose division could further jeopardize efforts to undo coups and curb violence spreading across the region. The leaders of the three countries announced that position during their first summit held in Niger on Saturday after their withdrawal from the West Africa bloc known as ECOWAS in January. They also pledged to consolidate their own union — the Alliance of Sahel States — created last year amid fractured relations with neighbors.