The African Union has said it feels “deep regret” over the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS.

Its President, Moussa Faki Mahamat, “calls on regional leaders to intensify the dialogue between the ECOWAS leadership and the three aforementioned countries”, which last Sunday accused the West African bloc of posing a threat to their sovereignty.

It also indicated that the African Union Commission was willing “to provide all the assistance in its power for the success of the logic of fraternal dialogue, far from all external interference from wherever they come”.

ECOWAS had issued its statement earlier saying it was yet to receive any direct formal notification from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic about their intention to withdraw from the Community.

The Commission said it has been “working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order, and they remain, important members of the Community, while committing to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse”.