Article 91: /Faso, Mali, Niger Officially Withdraw from ECOWAS
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), effective January 29, 2025.
This development comes after the fulfilment of Article 91, which provides that:: “Any Member State wishing to withdraw from the Community shall give to the Executive Secretary one year’s notice in writing who shall inform Member States thereof. At the expiration of this period, if such notice is not withdrawn, such a State shall cease to be a member of the Community.”
The hree countries’ military juntas had accused ECOWAS of being “under the influence of foreign powers” and failing to support their fight against terrorism and insecurity.
The withdrawal follows ECOWAS’ imposition of sanctions on the three countries due to their failure to return to civilian rule. ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had handed an ultimatum to the Nigerien junta to restore President Mohamed Bazoum, which was defied by the junta.
Despite their withdrawal, ECOWAS has decided to keep its doors open and maintain regional solidarity. The organization has requested that all relevant authorities recognize national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by citizens of the three countries, until further notice.
Additionally, ECOWAS has directed that goods and services from the three countries continue to be treated in accordance with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy. Citizens of the affected countries will also continue to enjoy visa-free movement, residence, and establishment in accordance with ECOWAS protocols.
The ECOWAS Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on the modalities of future engagement with the three countries. This arrangement will be in place until the full determination of the modalities by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
The trio had in response to the economic sanctions, the adamant military juntas in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, on January 27, announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, saying the regional bloc had derailed “the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.”
They claimed that ECOWAS had become a threat to its member states. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, governed by military regimes against France, announced their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS, claiming it is being manipulated by their former colonial power.