In a major shift for West Africa’s political landscape, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have confirmed their decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by 2025. This announcement was made by Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during the 66th ordinary session of heads of state and governments in Abuja.
The three countries, which had been suspended from the bloc earlier this year following military coups, will formally sever ties with ECOWAS between January 29 and July 29, 2025. The timeframe will allow for potential diplomatic interventions and last-minute mediation efforts, according to Touray.
This move follows a joint statement from the military-led governments of the three nations, who described their departure as “irreversible.” They accused ECOWAS of serving the interests of France, their former colonial power, and expressed their intent to forge a new path for their citizens outside of the regional bloc.
The announcement comes just ahead of an ECOWAS summit, where regional leaders had hoped to negotiate a resolution that could retain the countries within the organization.
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