The three military-led West African nations – Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The regional bloc disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
This brings to an end a year-long attempt by ECOWAS to convince the countries to reconsider leaving the bloc.
In the Wednesday statement, ECOWAS said though the withdrawal of the three countries became effective today, its decision to keep its doors open was in the spirit of regional solidarity and in the interest of the people.
However, in the spirit of regional solidarity, it asked members to recognize National passports and identity cards bearing ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, until further notice.
The statement reads, “In the spirit of regional solidarity”, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) asked its member countries to still recognise the national passports of the three exiting countries bearing the ECOWAS logo until further notice.”
It also enjoined members to continue to treat goods and services coming from the three countries in accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.
It added, “Allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of visa free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the ECOWAS protocols until further notice.”
More so, it urged members to continue providing full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three countries in the course of their assignments for the Community.
The ECOWAS Authority also said its doors remain open for more engagements with the three countries and thus requested its member states to:
“a) recognize national passports and identity cards bearing ECOWAS logo
held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic
of Niger, until further notice.
“b) continue to treat goods and services coming from the three countries in
accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and
investment policy.
“c) allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of
visa-free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the
ECOWAS protocols until further notice.
“d) provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three
countries in the course of their assignments for the Community.”
“These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“The Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period,” the statement concluded.
The departure ot the three countries has fractured the region and is leaving the ECOWAS grappling with an uncertain future.
The three junta-led countries formally notified ECOWAS of their plan for an “immediate” withdrawal in January 2024, citing the organisation’s excessive dependence on France in particular.
Paris has become the common enemy of the three juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.
However, ECOWAS required one year’s notice for the departure to be effective — that deadline falls on Wednesday.
The three Sahelian countries have teamed up to form a separate confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
