The military leader of Niger General Abdourahamane Tiani, has said that the people of his country, along with neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, have “irrevocably turned their backs” on the West African bloc.
Tiani said this at the opening of a summit in Niamey the first meeting between the three Sahelian nations, to cement an alliance created in the face of opposition from neighbouring countries.
All three countries which now form the Alliance of Sahel States have been affected by jihadist violence, in part a reason given for the army takeovers.
The presidents of ECOWAS will have their chance to respond at a heads of state meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, tomorrow.
