The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially accepted and recognized the pullout Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic from the regional body.
In an official statement issued by the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, the Community stated that effective January 29, 2025, the three countries ceases to
ECOWAS had earlier activated a one-year window to explore possibilities of the three countries rejoining the regional body which has now elapsed.
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However, despite the official recognition of the exit of the three countries, ECOWAS said it will continue to maintain its relationship with the three countries, including recognition of diplomatic documents bearing its name in the possession of national of the exited countries.
Existing economic activities including free movement of goods and services and visa-free access to citizens of the three nations will also continue to be respected among all ECOWAS member states.
It stated that, “These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
“The Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to avoid confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period.”
The three countries announced their exit from the regional body after series of coups overthrew elected government in the countries. The military leaders announced that ECOWAS had outlived its usefulness as it has “failed to protect” the people and governments of West African states from the stranglehold of colonial masters.
The three francophone nations in the last one year have implement series of drastic policies aimed at dissociating themselves from France, their colonial master.
