Coup-hit nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso form Sahel Alliance

The coup-hit nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso on Saturday ruled out returning to the West Africa regional bloc whose division could further jeopardize regional efforts to curb the violence spreading across the region.

Military junta leaders of the three countries met for their first summit in Niamey, the capital of Niger, after their withdrawal from the West Africa bloc known as ECOWAS in January.

They accused the bloc of failing…