ECOWAS APPROVES WITHDRAWAL OF NIGER, MALI, BURKINA FASO AS MEMBERS

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday approved the withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso as member states from January 29, 2025.

Recall that in January, the military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The countries’ military regimes announced withdrawal from the regional bloc in a joint statement read out on Niger national television.

The leaders of the three Sahel nations had issued a joint statement saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay”.

“After 49 years, the valiant peoples of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regretfully and with great disappointment observe that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Niger junta spokesman, said in the statement.

“The organization notably failed to assist these states in their existential fight against terrorism and insecurity,” Abdramane added.

Barely eleven months after this announcement, the regional group allowed the three countries to leave.

The group also declared a six-month transition period lasting until July 2025.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, announced this at the close of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

He announced, “The Authority takes note of the request by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.

“In accordance with article 91 of the ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.”

However, the bloc says its doors remain open during the seven-month transitionary period from January 29 to July 29.