The three countries putchist regimes announced their quitting the West African bloc, citing it as a threat to member states and peoples, in a new chapter of tensions fueled by Russian meddling and mistrust of France.
Despite fighting two jihadist insurgencies, Niger, which has been ruled by military leaders since July, announced in a statement their withdrawal of consent for the deployment of an EU military partnership mission.
The opposition Unity Party candidate, former Vice President Joseph Boakai defeated incumbent George Weah in the second round of Liberia s presidential election with 50.64% of the vote.