Finance ministers from the Sahel Coalition nations (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger) threatened on Saturday to withdraw from the Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA). The move comes in protest against Côte d'Ivoire's refusal to hand over the Union's rotating presidency to Burkina Faso during Friday's annual meeting in Lomé, Togo's capital.

Burkinabé media reported that the ministers' ultimatum followed failed negotiations over Burkina Faso's presidency bid. Under WAEMU's bylaws, the presidency should rotate every two years among member states, with Côte d'Ivoire having held the position for the current term.

Key Points of Contention:

• WAEMU's internal regulations mandate that each member state's finance minister assumes the presidency in rotation.

• The 8-member Union includes Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, and Benin.

• The ministerial meeting entered a 4-hour closed-door session without consensus, prompting the Sahel trio's walkout.

Regional Reactions:
Senegal's Economy Minister Abdourahmane Sarr emphasized on Facebook: "The Union's credibility rests on economic discipline, sound financial management by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), and members' political-economic reliability."