The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has given Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger six months to reconsider their decision to withdraw membership of the regional group.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, who made the announcement on Sunday in Abuja after the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, said the period is from 29 January to 29 July 2025, to enable the three countries reconsider their decision to exit the regional bloc.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reports that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who are currently under military rule, had some months ago notified the ECOWAS authority of their intention to exit the regional group.
Their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS came after military takeover of government in the three countries.
Touray said the ECOWAS authority takes note of the notification by Bukina Faso, Mali and Niger of their decision to withdraw from the organisation.
He pointed out that in line 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. However, the authority decided to set the six period ending 29 July 2025 “as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period,” if they wish to rescind their decision of exiting the regional bloc.
Touray explained that with the extension, the ECOWAS Authority has further extended the mandate of President faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation exercise up to the end of the transition period with aim of bringing the three member countries back to ECOWAS.
He added that the ECOWAS Authority has directed that a withdrawal formalities be launched after the end of the deadline of 29 January 2025, adding that a contingency plan covering different areas would be drawn up.
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“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,” he added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
