ECOWAS gives Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso 6-month ultimatum
The Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS has granted Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger a six-month period, from January 29 to July 29, 2025, to reconsider their decision to leave the regional bloc.
Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the decision after the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority in Abuja on Sunday. He confirmed that the three countries’ withdrawal, set to take effect on January 29, 2025, would be paused for the transitional period.
During this time, ECOWAS will keep its doors open, with mediation efforts led by Presidents Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal continuing until the end of the transition period. ECOWAS also instructed the Commission President to initiate withdrawal procedures after the deadline and prepare a contingency plan for the political and economic relations between the bloc and the three countries.
The Authority also tasked the Council of Ministers with convening an Extraordinary Session in the second quarter of 2025 to finalize separation modalities.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, chairing the summit, commended the diplomatic efforts and emphasized the importance of unity and commitment to ECOWAS principles in addressing regional challenges. He also congratulated outgoing African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat and praised Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo for his democratic leadership.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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