ECOWAS Faces Uncertain Future Following Members' Exit Plans

FILE - The defense chiefs of ECOWAS countries — excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger — gather in Accra, Ghana, to discuss the situation in Niger, Aug. 17, 2023. Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, announced their departure from the bloc last week.

Officials from countries of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS met in Nigeria's capital Thursday to discuss the exit of three members, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who announced their departure from the bloc last week. The bloc is also dealing with a brewing crisis in Senegal, where the president has delayed elections until December.