The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set a transitional period from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to reconsider their withdrawal from the organization.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced this during the closing communique of the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja.
Touray confirmed that ECOWAS had acknowledged the notification from the three countries regarding their decision to exit the bloc. According to Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, these countries would officially cease to be members from January 29, 2025.
To address the situation, ECOWAS extended the mandates of President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and President Macky Sall of Senegal to continue mediating with the three nations throughout the transition period.
Touray stated:
“Without prejudice to the spirit of openness, the Authority has instructed the ECOWAS Commission to initiate withdrawal procedures after January 29, 2025, while preparing a contingency plan covering various areas of cooperation.”
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers has been directed to convene an extraordinary session in the second quarter of 2025 to finalize the separation process, including the political and economic arrangements between ECOWAS and the three nations.
The authority also commended the diplomatic efforts of Presidents Gnassingbé and Sall, as well as those of ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, and other member states for their engagement with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
