Latest news: Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announce when to finally get rid of ECOWAS

• Mali, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger have officially announced that they will no longer be members of the West African bloc, ECOWAS.
• Alieu Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, announced the decision of the four countries during the 66th ordinary session of heads of state and government
• Touray’s announcement follows the three countries announcing their intention to leave the community

Mali, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger will officially cease to be members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as of January 29, 2025. This announcement was made by Alieu Touray, Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, during the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

This decision comes after the three countries notified ECOWAS of their intention to withdraw from the community. The withdrawal process is expected to be completed by July 29, 2025, with a transition period in between.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS will keep its doors open to the three countries and mediation efforts will continue to try to reintegrate them into the community. The authority extended the mandate of President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation efforts until the end of the transition period.

Why Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria are leaving ECOWAS

The decision to withdraw from ECOWAS is not entirely surprising, given recent tensions between the three countries and the community. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have all experienced political instability and military takeovers in recent years, leading to their suspension from ECOWAS. The community is working to restore democracy and stability to the region, but it appears that the three countries have decided to go their separate ways.

The implications of this withdrawal are not yet clear, but it is likely to have significant economic and political consequences for the region. ECOWAS strives to promote economic integration and cooperation among its member states, and the loss of three key members could undermine these efforts. Furthermore, the withdrawal could also have implications for regional security and stability, particularly given the ongoing security challenges in the Sahel region.

In response to the withdrawal, ECOWAS requested the council of ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to review and adopt separation modalities and a contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the three country. This plan will aim to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal and ensure a smooth transition for all parties involved.

Source: Legit.ng