Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, following a formal notice issued on January 29, 2024.
Despite the withdrawal, ECOWAS has called on its member states to maintain open channels of communication in the spirit of regional solidarity and in the interest of the people.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally withdrawn from ECOWAS as of 29th January 2025, a year after notifying the regional bloc. Despite the exit, ECOWAS has urged member states to keep their doors open in the spirit of regional solidarity and the people’s interests. pic.twitter.com/BI9ElQkndX
— Voice of Nigeria (@voiceofnigeria) January 29, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025. pic.twitter.com/3sydwMwh3R
— Ecowas – Cedeao (@ecowas_cedeao) January 29, 2025
In a statement released on Wednesday, ECOWAS also directed that all relevant authorities within and outside the ECOWAS member states continue to recognize national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger until further notice.
“Allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of visa-free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.”
Member states were encouraged to “provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three countries in the course of their assignments for the Community.”
The statement stressed that these arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period, the statement added.
Shakirat Sadiq
Comments are closed.