Home News ECOWAS Awaits Sahel States’ Decision as Withdrawal Deadline Expires

ECOWAS Awaits Sahel States’ Decision as Withdrawal Deadline Expires

by hannah
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Uncertainty looms over the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the deadline for the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc expires today.

ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, is expected to address the media on the situation as diplomatic efforts to engage the three countries remain unresolved.

The three nations were suspended from ECOWAS in January 2024 following military coups that toppled their civilian governments.

Despite outreach from ECOWAS, including official letters requesting meetings, the bloc has received no indication that the junta-led administrations are reconsidering their exit.

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The withdrawal process follows Article 91 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, which mandates a one-year notice period. A transitional phase ending in July 2025 was also introduced to facilitate negotiations and finalise withdrawal protocols.

At the 66th Ordinary Session in December 2024, Touray reaffirmed ECOWAS’ willingness to engage with the departing nations, extending mediation efforts led by Senegalese President Bassirou Faye and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.

However, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have accused ECOWAS of deviating from its founding principles and yielding to external pressures, particularly regarding the sanctions imposed after their military takeovers.

In response, the three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States, a coalition focused on defence cooperation and regional self-reliance, distancing themselves from traditional Western allies while strengthening ties with Russia.

The withdrawals highlight a major setback for ECOWAS, which was established in 1975 to promote economic integration and regional stability.

Recent military coups in West Africa, including in Niger in 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Mali in 2020 and 2021, have heightened concerns over democratic backsliding and security challenges in the region.

ECOWAS Chair, President Bola Tinubu, has reiterated the bloc’s commitment to diplomacy while ensuring the protection of citizens and stability in the region.

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