Thousands of people rallied Tuesday in Niger and Burkina Faso in support of the withdrawal of their countries from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, which is due to take effect today.

Junta-led countries Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso officially left West Africa's main political and trade group ECOWAS on Wednesday after more than a year of diplomatic tensions. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have now formed their own confederation,

Officials and citizens gathered for a ceremony in the southwest town of Kangaba to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso's decision to quit regional bloc ECOWAS. The three junta-led nations formed their own regional trade group,

Thousands of people rallied in junta-led Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali on Tuesday to back their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, due to take

The passport, set to be available from January 29, is part of their new alliance, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). The three countries, all led by military governments, say the passport will replace the ECOWAS passport.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced on Wednesday that Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn from the regional bloc, marking an unprecedented rupture after a year-long effort to prevent fragmentation.

The ECOWAS bloc has offered some concessions to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their exit from the union ・ECOWAS granted concessions to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their exit from the union ・The bloc emphasized its open-door policy for continued engagement with the three countries ・ECOWAS instructed member states to recognize