From our Correspondent
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the formal withdrawal of the three member states of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, as members of the regional bloc, from Jan. 29, 2025.
TheNewsZenith reports that the regional bloc has also declared a seven-month transition period to last in July 2025.
Omar Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, announced this at the close of the 66th Ordinary Session of the bloc’s Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
“The Authority takes note of the request by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from ECOWAS.
“By the provisions of Article 91 of its treaty, the three countries will cease to be ECOWAS members from Jan. 29, 2025.
“The Authority decides to set the period from Jan. 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, as a transitional period.
“This is to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period,” Touray said.
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TheNewsZenith recalls that in January 2024, the three countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
The three-member states accused the regional bloc of deviating from its foundational ideals.
They said the bloc has succumbed to external influences, particularly criticising the imposition of sanctions to reverse their respective coups.
This decision followed a series of military takeovers in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger in 2023.
These takeovers led to suspensions from ECOWAS and strained relations with the organisation.
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