The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has formally approved the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc, effective 29 January 2025.
This decision was announced in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of an ECOWAS summit held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, read the communiqué, stating, “The authority takes note of the notification by Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.”
He further noted, “In accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from 29 January 2025.”
However, ECOWAS extended a six-month grace period until 29 July 2025, to allow the three countries to reconsider their decision.
“The authority decides to set the period from 29 January 2025 to 29 July 2025 as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period,” Touray added.
The summit also resolved to continue mediation efforts, extending the mandates of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
President Faye, who has been mediating since July, said he was “making progress” in talks with the three countries and added that there was no reason for them not to maintain relations amid ongoing security concerns in the region, where al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have gained ground.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formed a new group, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and reaffirmed that their decision to leave ECOWAS is “irreversible.”
Despite their withdrawal, the countries pledged to keep their borders visa-free for ECOWAS citizens.
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