Mali declared its intent to break away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) without waiting for the mandated year-long period, as stipulated by the bloc's treaty.
Last month, Mali, along with its neighboring nations Niger and Burkina Faso, all governed by military regimes, announced an immediate departure from ECOWAS, unraveling years of regional cooperation and integration efforts.
Formally notifying the ECOWAS Commission of their decision on Jan. 29, the three countries would technically remain members until one year from that date, according to the treaty's provisions.
In a statement released online, Mali's foreign ministry accused ECOWAS of breaching its own regulations by shutting its borders to Mali during the imposition of sanctions on the military leadership.
As a result, Mali asserted its freedom from the time constraints outlined in Article 91 of the Revised Treaty.
Emphasizing the irreversible nature of its decision, Mali cited ECOWAS's disregard for its own rules and other justifiable grounds for its immediate withdrawal.
While ECOWAS, Niger, and Burkina Faso have yet to respond to Mali's move, ECOWAS has convened a meeting on Feb. 8 to address the unfolding situation.
The departure of these three countries deals a significant blow to the 15-nation bloc, which had been engaged in negotiations with their military rulers in efforts to reinstate democratic governance.