The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially recognised the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic from the regional bloc on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. This marks the conclusion of a one-year notice period that the three nations had provided, officially ending their membership in the organization.
Despite their formal exit, ECOWAS, in a move aimed at maintaining regional solidarity, has asked member states to continue recognizing the national passports of citizens from the three countries that still bear the ECOWAS logo. The decision will remain in effect until further notice.
In a statement, ECOWAS outlined the following guidelines for its member countries regarding the three exiting nations:
1) Recognition of national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo issued by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
2) Continued adherence to the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) for goods and services originating from the three countries.
3) Citizens of these nations will continue to enjoy visa-free movement, residence, and establishment rights under ECOWAS protocols.
4) Full cooperation with ECOWAS officials from the three countries during their duties for the organization.
These provisions are set to remain until a more permanent framework for future engagement with the three nations is determined by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Commission has established a structure to facilitate discussions with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on these modalities.
This interim arrangement aims to minimize disruptions to the lives and businesses of citizens across the region during the transition.
The exit of the three countries, all of which are currently under military regimes, comes after their formal notification of intent to leave ECOWAS in January 2024. They cited the bloc’s close ties to France as a primary reason for their decision. The countries have increasingly aligned with other powers such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran, seeking alternative international partnerships.
In response to the exit, the three countries have formed a new confederation known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is expected to chart a new course for regional cooperation. This development adds further uncertainty to the future of ECOWAS and the political landscape of West Africa.
In Niger, thousands gathered in the capital, Niamey, to mark the departure, including members of the military regime, as they made their way towards the national assembly to celebrate the withdrawal from ECOWAS.
Though the three countries are no longer part of the bloc, ECOWAS has decided to continue granting citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger the same rights they had before the exit, ensuring their continued freedom of movement within the region.
