The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said that it is ready for “a negotiated solution” after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced they are quitting the group.

In a statement, ECOWAS said the three countries are “important members of the community,” and the bloc “remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse."

It added that it is “yet to receive any direct formal notification” from the countries about their withdrawal.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations had yesterday issued a statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.