ECOWAS states when it’ll approve withdrawal of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso

• Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso will formally cease to be members of ECOWAS on January 29, 2025
• The three countries announced their withdrawal in January 2024, citing dissatisfaction with ECOWAS’s alignment with external influences and sanctions imposed after military coups
• Nigerian President Bola Tinubu urged ECOWAS members to stay committed to regional stability, security, and prosperity while pursuing peaceful resolutions

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will commence the formal withdrawal process for Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso on January 29, 2025.

The announcement follows the expiration of the one-year statutory notice period required under Article 91 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty. The transition process is expected to last until July 29, 2025.

Doctor Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, disclosed this after the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

He noted that the bloc is prepared to engage in withdrawal protocols within the designated six-month transitional window.

Statutory provisions for withdrawal

Article 91 mandates that member states seeking to exit the bloc must provide formal notice to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, triggering a one-year waiting period.

The withdrawing states must settle any outstanding financial and legal obligations during this time.

Dr. Touray explained, “The Authority acknowledges the notifications from Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger regarding their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS. In line with Article 91, these countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS on January 29, 2025.”

He added that the bloc would remain open to re-engagement with the three countries during the transition period.

To foster dialogue, ECOWAS has extended the mediation mandates of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé and Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, who have been leading discussions with the withdrawing states since June 2024.

Dr Touray stated, “The Authority extends the mandate of President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and President Bassirou Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation roles until the end of the transition period, aiming to bring the three member states back into ECOWAS.”

ECOWAS has directed the Commission President to initiate withdrawal procedures after the January 29, 2025, deadline. The Council of Ministers is tasked with convening an extraordinary session in the second quarter of 2025 to adopt a comprehensive withdrawal framework and contingency plan.

These documents outline the political and economic relationship between ECOWAS and the withdrawing states.

Touray emphasised, “The Authority has instructed the President of the Commission to prepare a contingency plan addressing various sectors and to launch formal withdrawal procedures after January 29, 2025. The Council of Ministers will finalise the separation modalities and contingency plan during its extraordinary session.”

Tinubu’s call for unity

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority, commended member states for their robust discussions during the summit. He urged the bloc to remain united in addressing the region's challenges.

“As we move forward to implement the outcomes of this summit, let us remain united in our determination to uphold the principles that define ECOWAS as a community.

“Together, let us champion the cause of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa, anchored on freedom, justice, democracy, and good governance,” Tinubu said.

Tinubu also praised Moussa Faki, outgoing President of the African Union Commission, and extended gratitude to Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, lauding his contributions to democracy in the region.

Background on withdrawal

In January 2024, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formally announced their intention to leave ECOWAS, citing dissatisfaction with the bloc’s perceived abandonment of its founding ideals.

They also criticised ECOWAS for yielding to external influences, particularly over sanctions imposed following military coups in the three countries.

The countries have since established the Alliance of Sahel States, a regional bloc focused on mutual defence and support. They have also shifted away from traditional Western allies like France and strengthened ties with Russia.

By September 2024, Burkina Faso introduced a biometric passport that excluded the ECOWAS emblem, further underscoring its withdrawal.

During a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last week, President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to resolving the political crises in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso through diplomatic means. He emphasised that innocent citizens should not bear the brunt of military-led decisions.

As of December 2024, ECOWAS comprises 12 member states: Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

ECOWAS launches digital certificate of origin to boost regional trade

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The groundbreaking initiative aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which is to simplify and accelerate cross-border trade across Africa.