The ECOWAS Commission has stated that transactions with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will remain open despite their decision to withdraw from the regional bloc, effective January 29, 2025. The withdrawal will be acknowledged by relevant authorities within and outside ECOWAS member states.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, emphasized that in the spirit of regional solidarity and for the benefit of the people, strong mutual relations between the three nations and the ECOWAS community will be maintained.
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“And ECOWAS is informing the general public that national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo and which are being held by citizens of the three countries, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger, will remain recognized by ECOWAS member states until further notice. ECOWAS member states will also continue to treat goods and services coming from the three countries in accordance with the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme and investment policy until further notice. ECOWAS member states will also continue to 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 protocols until further notice,” he explained.
The ECOWAS President explained that following the notification the Commission received from the three countries in January 2024 regarding their decision and intention to withdraw from the community, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger formally ceased to be members of the economic community of West African states today, 29th January 2025.
Article 91 of the revised Treaty of ECOWAS provides that when a member country intends to leave the community, it should give a one-year notice. And within that one year, they have all the latitude to withdraw their notification, which they have not withdrawn.
“The notification of the three countries that were communicated in January 2024 has not been withdrawn. As a result, the authority acknowledged during its summit in December, on the 15th of December 2024, that the three countries will cease to be members of ECOWAS from today, the 29th of January 2025. On the 13th of January 2025, I wrote to all three countries to communicate the position of the authority concerning their notification. I also informed them about the directive that the Commission has received regarding the need to initiate withdrawal formalities.”
He said that the ECOWAS Commission has established a framework to facilitate discussions with the three nations to prevent disruptions in the lives of citizens and businesses during this transition period.
“In that respect, I have proposed that we meet at the technical level to initiate the withdrawal formalities. As you know, the withdrawal formalities will cover many areas, ranging from legal to institutional as well as programmatic areas. Those engagements will be decided upon jointly. And we have begun receiving responses from the three countries. At least two of the three countries have already written to indicate their availability for such talks.”
He enjoined ECOWAS member states to continue to support and collaborate with ECOWAS officials who are citizens of the three countries but who continue to exercise official functions on behalf of ECOWAS.
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