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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic will cease to be members of the regional bloc between January 29 and July 29, 2025.
Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, made the disclosure during the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Touray emphasized that the transitional period would provide an opportunity for final diplomatic engagements. He praised the efforts of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in mediating the situation.
“The authority takes note of the notification by Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS,” he said. “In accordance with Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members from January 29, 2025.”
To encourage a return to the bloc, ECOWAS has extended the mediation mandates of Presidents Gnassingbé and Faye until the end of the transition period.
A contingency plan, covering political and economic relations with the departing nations, will be developed. An extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025 to finalize separation modalities and future arrangements.
The decision comes amid strained relations between ECOWAS and the three countries following military coups in the region. The bloc remains committed to maintaining open doors for dialogue and reconciliation during this transition.
