By Okafor Joseph Afam
December 16, 2024

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday approved the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso as member states, effective January 29, 2025.

This decision comes nearly a year after the military regimes in the three Sahel nations declared their intention to exit the regional bloc. The announcement of their withdrawal was made in January through a joint statement broadcast on Niger’s national television.

In the joint statement, the military leaders described their move as a “sovereign decision” and criticized ECOWAS for straying from its original purpose.

“After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for the Nigerien junta, stated.

Abdramane further accused ECOWAS of failing to support the three nations in their “existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” which has plagued the region for years.

Following months of deliberations, ECOWAS officially accepted the countries’ request to leave during the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, confirmed the decision.

He stated, “The Authority takes note of the request by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS. In accordance with article 91 of the ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.”

Despite the approval, ECOWAS announced a transition period of six months, extending until July 2025. This grace period is intended to allow for negotiations and the possible reconsideration of the withdrawal.

“During this period, ECOWAS reaffirms that its doors remain open for dialogue and reconciliation,” Dr. Touray added.

The departure of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso marks a significant moment in the history of the regional bloc, which was established in 1975 to promote economic integration and regional stability. However, tensions have grown between ECOWAS and the three countries following a series of military coups and disagreements over counterterrorism strategies.

As the withdrawal date approaches, observers remain uncertain about the broader implications for regional security, trade, and diplomacy in West Africa.