Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso were to officially quit the West African bloc Ecowas Wednesday, severing ties after years of strained relations that have reshaped trade routes in the Sahel.

Three countries under military rule have officially left West African regional bloc Ecowas, after more than a year of diplomatic tensions. The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is a huge blow to Ecowas, which at 50 years old is considered Africa's most important regional group.

LAGOS (Reuters) - The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday announced the formal exit of junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the bloc following their withdrawal last year. West Africa has been rocked by a spate of coups that has countries in the 15-member body under military rule in the past five years.

The three junta-led West African nations withdrawal is the culmination of a yearlong process during which the grouping tried to avert its unprecedented disintegration.

ECOWAS had given Burkina Faso Mali and Niger until July to reconsider the move but they said their departure was irreversible Burkina F

ECOWAS has become a target for military governments that have taken over Burkina, Mali and Niger. The teen years are no joke. Many parents of 15-year-old kids are constantly hearing from their teens how their friends get to do so much more than they are allowed to do and how they are being treated like babies.