Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic are set to officially cease being members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) between January 29 and July 29, 2025.
The announcement was made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Alieu Touray, during the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja on Sunday.
The decision follows the trio’s earlier withdrawal declarations in January 2024, after their military regimes accused ECOWAS of serving the interests of France, their former colonial power.
They described their withdrawal as “irreversible” and committed to forging a new path for their nations.
Before their withdrawal, the three nations had been suspended by ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali subjected to heavy sanctions following their military takeovers.
Touray noted that the 2025 exit timeframe was set to allow for final mediations and any potential diplomatic interventions aimed at addressing the current tensions.
This development marks a significant shift in the region’s political dynamics, as the three nations, united in their stance against external influence, seek alternatives outside the ECOWAS framework.
