The governments of Niger and Burkina Faso have formally announced their withdrawal from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
Both nations, currently led by transitional governments, made their decisions public through official channels.
Niger, where the OIF was founded in 1970, and Burkina Faso are both former French colonies where French remains the official language. Along with Mali, they form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc seeking greater autonomy from Western influence.
While Mali, a close ally of Niger and Burkina Faso within the AES, has not yet taken similar action, its stance on OIF membership remains uncertain.
This withdrawal follows the three countries’ departure from ECOWAS in January 2024, a move that led to the formalization of the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) in July 2024.
The decision signals a broader shift in its diplomatic strategy, particularly strengthening ties with Russia, as they move further away from organizations perceived as Western-dominated.
