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Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced to withdraw from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). The three countries accused the OIF has become “a remote-controlled political instrument, operated from Paris to suit its ‘geopolitical considerations’,” the Peoples Dispatch writes.

The three countries were founding members of the OIF, an organisation with the purpose to promote the French language and greater cooperation among Francophone countries. Its precursor, the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), was established in 1970 in Niger’s capital Niamey.

“Despite their 55 years of contribution to strengthening this organization, the trio complained that the OIF showed a ‘disregard for their sovereignty’ by ‘selective implementation of sanctions’ after the ouster of former France-backed regimes in these countries”.

When mass protests demanded the expulsion of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, their armies sided with the “anti-imperialist movement: in Mali in 2020, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger in 2023. The military governments that replaced these regimes expelled French troops from their countries.

“Instead of accompanying these countries in achieving the legitimate aspirations of their peoples, in accordance with its objectives of peace, cooperation, and solidarity,” the statement declared that the OIF was quick to retaliate by suspending and sanctioning these countries. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), regarded in the region as neocolonial and linked to France and the US, had gone beyond suspensions and imposition of crippling economic sanctions, even threatening a France-backed military invasion of Niger in 2023.

Meanwhile, the three Sahelian neighbor states formed a military pact that evolved into a confederation called the Alliance for Sahel States (AES). AES’s withdrawal from ECOWAS last year came into effect in January, reducing the land area under the regional bloc to less than half of its original size. Following this, on March 17, Niger and Burkina Faso announced their exit from OIF. Mali followed suit on March 18. The withdrawal from OIF was described by Le Monde as “a post-colonial entity that resembles the Commonwealth”.

Their withdrawal will take effect in six months. The OIF has 93 member states. “However, amid the growing strength of popular movements in France’s former colonies in the Sahel and West Africa – including in Benin, Ivory Coast, Chad, etc – its ability to continue exerting influence through such institutions is weakening fast”, the Peoples Dispatch states.