On January 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three military-led West African countries, announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In a joint statement issued by the three countries on the same day, they said the body had become a threat to member states.

“Indeed the organisation has not provided assistance to our States in the context of our existential fight against terrorism and insecurity: worse, when these States decided to take their destiny into their own hands, it adopted an irrational and unacceptable posture by imposing illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions in violation of its own texts,” the statement read in part.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Withdraw From ECOWAS

The countries are, however, not the first to quit ECOWAS, as Mauritania pulled out of the community in 1999.

MAURITINIA PULLED OUT OF ECOWAS IN 1999

On December 26, 1999, Mauritania withdrew its membership in ECOWAS. Interestingly, the West African country would not state precisely the reason for the withdrawal.

It, however, said it took the step as a result of some “unacceptable” decisions that were made by other members of the community.

READ ALSO: 1993 Treaty: Why Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Must Remain in ECOWAS for One Year

It was later suggested that the earlier plans made by ECOWAS to have a single and common currency for all member states could have been responsible for the action.

ECOWAS will have just 12 members after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s formal departure as member states is completed.