The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is now irreversible, according to Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.
"Our heads of state [at the July 6 summit of the Alliance of Sahel States] in Niamey made it very clear that the withdrawal of the three countries from ECOWAS is irreversible. We must stop looking in the rearview mirror," Diop stated, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
However, Diop emphasized that "Mali remains open to cooperation with ECOWAS." He also expressed opposition to the potential introduction of visas for citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger traveling to ECOWAS countries.
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Based on materials from TASS