Synopsis
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially exited ECOWAS as of January 30, 2025, following a year of intentions to withdraw. Despite this, ECOWAS will continue to recognize national documents and allow for visa-free movement for citizens from these nations during a transitional period.Key Takeaways
- Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially withdrawn from ECOWAS.
- The withdrawal took effect on January 30, 2025.
- ECOWAS will continue to recognize documents from these countries.
- Citizens will maintain visa-free movement rights until further notice.
- The three nations have formed the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Abuja, Jan 30 (NationPress) The memberships of the three West African nations, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have been officially terminated from the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This decision comes one year after these junta-led nations collectively expressed their intention to leave the regional organization.
The ECOWAS Commission announced that the withdrawal became effective on Wednesday. This marks a significant departure from a bloc established in 1975 to foster economic integration across various sectors, including industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial matters, as well as social and cultural affairs, according to Xinhua news agency.
Despite this withdrawal, the commission stated it aims to maintain a spirit of regional camaraderie and prioritized the welfare of the people. It instructed all relevant authorities, both within and outside member states, to recognize national passports and identity cards featuring the ECOWAS logo for citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, while also continuing to treat goods and services from these countries according to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and investment policy.
The commission further mandated that citizens from the three nations retain their rights to visa-free travel, residence, and establishment, in compliance with ECOWAS protocols, until further notice and pledged full cooperation with ECOWAS officials assigned to the community.
These protocols will remain in effect until the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government determines the future engagement modalities with these nations. The commission has established a framework to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each country.
On January 28, 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger publicly announced their intent to withdraw from ECOWAS as a reaction to previous sanctions imposed by the regional bloc aimed at urging military juntas to restore constitutional governance. This announcement raised concerns among ECOWAS members, headquartered in Abuja, which subsequently lifted the sanctions.
Following this, on December 15, 2024, during the conclusion of its 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, ECOWAS granted a six-month grace period from January 29 to July 29 for these three nations to reconsider their withdrawal. This period was designated as transitional, keeping the doors of the West African bloc open to them, as stated by Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, in a briefing in Abuja.
According to the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, the three nations will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, as confirmed by Touray.
On July 6, 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formed the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following their announcement of withdrawal from ECOWAS.
On Tuesday, demonstrations occurred in all three AES countries to commemorate the first anniversary of their exit from ECOWAS.
In Niamey, the capital of Niger, thousands marched from Place Toumo to Place de la Concertation. “The people of the AES gathered today to support the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States in its revolutionary approach, to celebrate the first anniversary of the exit from ECOWAS, to say no to the CFA franc, and to caution against the actions of French President Emmanuel Macron,” stated Abdoulaye Seydou, a coordinator of the M62 Movement, one of the event's organizers.
A gathering also took place in Mali at Kurukanfuga, a site of national heritage significance near Bamako, the capital. “ECOWAS has strayed from the ideals of its founders and from pan-Africanism,” noted Samou Samuel Kone, another organizer from the podium, asserting that the organization has become “an obstacle to the development of its member states.”
Large crowds celebrated the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS in significant gatherings in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and in various other towns.
Earlier that morning, Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore oversaw an official ceremony to raise the flags of the three AES confederation countries to commemorate their departure from ECOWAS. A separate gathering occurred at Place de la Nation in Ouagadougou, attended by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo and thousands of demonstrators carrying the flags of the three nations.
Ouedraogo praised “this historic mobilization,” asserting, “we are going to combat this battle and we will emerge victorious together so that our children and grandchildren can thrive in a liberated and prosperous AES region with expansive horizons.”
