The military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic are set to withdraw their membership from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025, according to an announcement by the regional bloc on Sunday.
This resolution was part of the outcomes of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held in Abuja.
In a communiqué delivered by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, the bloc acknowledged and respected the decision of the three nations to exit the community. However, it stated that a six-month transition period, spanning from January 29 to July 29, 2025, would be implemented. During this time, ongoing negotiations with the ECOWAS Mediation Team, led by the Presidents of Senegal and Togo, will continue.
The communiqué further noted that should the three Sahel countries choose to rejoin ECOWAS during the transition period, they would be welcomed back into the community.
This decision aligns with Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, which upholds the sovereignty of each member state.
As a result, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will officially cease to be ECOWAS members starting January 29, 2025.
See the communique below:
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.
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 for Gnassingbé of a 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.
Without prejudice, for the spirit of the opening, The Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the deadline of 29th January, 2025 and to draw up a contingency plan covering various areas.
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.