ECOWAS Grants Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Six-Month Reassessment Period

ECOWAS has announced a six-month period for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to reassess their decisions to withdraw from the regional organization. This grace period will run from January 29 to July 29, 2025. The announcement was made by Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in Abuja.

Dr. Touray noted, "The Authority takes note of the notification by the Republic of Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali, and Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS." According to the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, these three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS starting January 29, 2025.

The Authority has decided to keep the doors open for the three countries during this transitional period. To facilitate this process, the mandate of the Presidents of Togo and Senegal has been extended to continue their mediation efforts until the end of the transition period, aiming to encourage the return of the three countries to ECOWAS.

Furthermore, the Authority has directed the President of the Commission to initiate withdrawal formalities after January 29, 2025, and to develop a contingency plan addressing various areas