Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger agree to grace period in ECOWAS withdrawal
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic will officially cease to be members of the ECOWAS between January 29 and July 29, 2025.
This timeline was announced by ECOWAS Commission President Alieu Touray on Sunday during the 66th ordinary session of heads of state and government in Abuja.
Earlier this year, the military-led governments of the three nations announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, citing the bloc’s alignment with the interests of France, their former colonial power.
Before their withdrawal, the trio had been suspended and faced sanctions, with Niger and Mali hit particularly hard. Touray explained that the extended exit timeline allows room for final mediations and diplomatic efforts. However, the three nations have described their decision to leave as “irreversible” and have pledged to forge an independent path for their citizens.
The announcement came ahead of a critical ECOWAS summit where regional leaders had aimed to negotiate a resolution to keep the three countries within the bloc.
