Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all governed by military regimes, announced their immediate withdrawal from the ECOWAS. The decision was described as a sovereign action due to ECOWAS’s perceived failure to assist in combating jihadist threats in the region. These nations have experienced tensions with ECOWAS following coups in recent years. The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel and increasing Russian influence have heightened concerns about the spread of conflict to other West African states.