Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially leave W.Africa bloc

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially exit ECOWAS after over a year of diplomatic tensions; all three countries have had coups in the last four years.[AFP]

Junta-led countries Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso officially left West Africa's main political and trade group ECOWAS on Wednesday after more than a year of diplomatic tensions.

The withdrawal has shaken the Economic Community of West African States which many consider to be the continent's most important regional group and which this year marks its 50th anniversary.