Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger to form Tri-State Confederation after exit from ECOWAS Military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are planning to establish a confederation after their exit from the West African bloc ECOWAS on January 28. The Malian Foreign Ministry said the three countries deepen ties via an alliance that threatens broader West African integration. The leaders of the three Sahel nations issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”. Again, on Monday, the leader of the military junta...