Baring any last-minute change, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will permanently withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2025.
Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, disclosed this on Sunday during the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
Touray stated that the withdrawal period would span from January 29 to July 29, 2025, to allow for final mediation efforts and possible diplomatic resolutions.
The decision marks a significant shift in regional dynamics, as the three countries have increasingly distanced themselves from ECOWAS following political and security developments in the region.
“After deliberations, their excellencies, the authority members of the authority of ECOWAS, heads of state and government, commend the exemplary diplomatic engagement of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, and His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé President of the Togolese Republic, and the diplomatic efforts of the chairman of authority, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other individual member states towards these three countries,” he said.
“The authority takes note of the notification by Bukina Faso, Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. The authority acknowledges that 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.
“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.
”In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.”
Touray said withdrawal formalities would be launched after the January 29, 2025 deadline.
He said a contingency plan covering various areas would be drawn up.
“The authority directs the council of ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso,” he said.
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