Sahel military chiefs form confederation, cement exit from West Africa bloc

Niamey, Niger — The military regimes of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso marked their divorce from the rest of West Africa Saturday as they signed a treaty setting up a confederation between them.  The first summit of the three countries, who all pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) this year, also saw calls for greater cooperation across a wide range of sectors.  "Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS," Niger's ruling General Abdourahamane Tiani...