The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given a six-month ultimatum, from January 29 to July 29, 2025, to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to reevaluate their decision to exit the regional bloc.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga revealed this on Sunday.
According to the statement, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, announced the six-month grace on Sunday in Abuja after the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
The improvement follows the elapse of the one-year statutory period since the three countries originally documented their decision to pull out.
ECOWAS expressed; “The Authority takes note of the notification by the Republic of Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali and Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
“The Authority recognizes that by the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, the three countries will formally cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.
“The Authority decides to set the period from January 29, 2025 to July 29, 2025, as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the change time frame.
“In such manner, the Authority extends the mandate of the President of Togo and the President of Senegal to proceed their mediation role up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.
“Without bias to the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the end of the deadline of January 29, 2025 and to draw up an emergency course of action covering various areas.
“The Authority directs the Council of Ministers to convene an Extraordinary Session during the 2nd quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso,” Touray read from the report.
Article 91 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty mandates that any member state wishing to pull out must officially notify the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The withdrawal doesn’t take immediate effect; all things considered, the country must wait one year from the date of the notification.
The one-year period, among other reasons, gives time for a withdrawing state to settle the financial and legal obligations it might owe to ECOWAS or affiliated institutions.
ECOWAS pioneers complimented the exemplary diplomatic engagement of President Bassirou Faye of Senegal and President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, as well as the diplomatic efforts of the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu, and other individual member states toward the three countries.
In closing, President Tinubu lauded the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for spirited discussions throughout the Summit. He noted that the collective aggregate determination highlighted their strength to address the region’s pressing difficulties.
“As we move ahead to implement the results of this Culmination, let us remain united in our determination and steadfast in our commitment to the principles that bind us together as a Community.
“I call on all Member States to redouble their efforts in ensuring that the decisions reached here translate into tangible benefits for our citizens,” he said.
The Nigerian leader urged the pioneers to convey forward the optimism and the resolve that guided the considerations.
“Together, let us continue to champion the cause of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa, to build ECOWAS as a community of peoples anchored on the ideals of freedom, justice, democracy, and a vision of good governance that addresses the legitimate aspirations of our people,” he stated.
President Tinubu congratulated the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, as he went to his valedictory session as AUC Chair.
He further lauded Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, whom he affectionately called “Mr. Democrat,” and wished him reverberating success.
He said ECOWAS will keep on drawing from President Akufo-Addo’s wellspring of intelligence.
