The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has formally acknowledged the withdrawal request from its member states of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, marking the beginning of a six-month transitional period. The decision was announced following the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, with the transitional period slated to run from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025.
The announcement came from Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, who confirmed that the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025. Despite this, the regional bloc has agreed to keep its doors open to the three countries throughout the six-month transition period.
This move follows the decision made in January 2024 by the three countries to withdraw from the regional bloc. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger criticized ECOWAS for what they described as a deviation from the bloc’s founding principles, particularly in relation to the sanctions imposed on them in response to the military coups that took place in each country.
Mali experienced a military takeover in 2020, followed by Burkina Faso in 2022, and most recently, Niger in 2023. These coups led to the suspension of the countries from ECOWAS and strained relations between the bloc and the military-led governments in these nations.
The transitional period allows for a possible re-engagement, offering ECOWAS and the three countries a window to address any lingering issues, with hopes of future cooperation. However, the formal exit of the three countries from the regional body is set to take effect by mid-2025, marking a significant shift in West Africa’s political and regional dynamics.