Former diplomats on Thursday warned that the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States could undermine regional stability, potentially escalating insurgency and extremism in the Sahel.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) withdraws from ECOWAS and continues initiatives for independence, regional integration, and defensive cooperation.

The three countries led by military regimes formally notified ECOWAS of their desire for “immediate” withdrawal. But the texts of the West African organisation required one year’s notice for it

The Sahel states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, are officially leaving the regional economic bloc ECOWAS on Wednesday, after 50 years.The withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States,

A joint force of 5,000 troops from military-led neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali will soon deploy in their troubled central Sahel region, Niger's defence chief said on state television.

Niger has become the first African country to eliminate river blindness, a parasitic disease that is the second-leading cause of blindness in the world, the WHO said Thursday.

The Sahel region is a geographical belt in Africa that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, between the Sahara Desert in the north and the Savannah in the south. It is characterised by challenging environmental crises and conflicts.

"The rise of junta rule in the Sahel represents a complex interplay between decolonization and destabilization."

Three junta-led nations have left the regional economic bloc ECOWAS, citing alleged French influence on the group. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are increasingly turning to Russia as an ally.

A source who asked for anonymity said Emptech is not involved in the production of the new passport for the three Sahel states.

Delivering Christian literature often comes with challenges, and the Sahel region is no exception. But what makes this journey so difficult?

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have officially left West Africa’s main political and trade group ECOWAS after more than a year of diplomatic tension.