Finally, The Economic Community of West African States(ECoWAS) has validated the exit of Niger, Mali and Niger from the regional bloc from January 29, 2025.
The development was made on Sunday December 15 at the end of the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government and ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
In a communiqué following the 66th Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, and ECOWAS Commission at the presidential villa, Abuja, it was revealed that the ECOWAS blog has approved withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the bloc from January 29, 2025.
The communiqué read by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, reads « 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. »
It’s worth noting that the validation came few days after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu promised German leadership Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the regional bloc would handle the three countries’ return to the group with wisdom.
However, In mid-2025, the ECOWAS council of Ministers would convene an extraordinary session to finalise separation modalities and the contingency plan.
Down memory lane, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in January made public their decision to exit from ECOWAS.
They revealed that the regional bloc is deviating from its foundational ideals and welcoming external influences.
As ECOWAS nears its 50th anniversary next year, president Tinubu called on member states to recommit to the bloc’s founding ideals of economic integration, peace and prosperity.
