ECOWAS establishes exit timeline for coup-affected nations

ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray has announced that the transition period will run from 29 January 2025 to 29 July 2025, while leaving the door open to the three countries during this period.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, Mr Touray said the decision was ‘discouraging’.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger declared their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS in January, citing the organisation’s sanctions and inability to resolve their security problems.

Membership of ECOWAS offers considerable benefits, such as visa-free travel between member states, and it is not yet clear how these benefits will be affected by the three countries’ exit from the organisation.

The military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have firmly rejected attempts by ECOWAS to persuade them to reconsider leaving, and are considering issuing their own travel documents and forming a separate alliance.

The one-year notice period for their exit is expected to end as planned.

Mr Touray praised the dedication of the EU envoys in their efforts to resolve the current crisis.

Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS, stressed that global and regional challenges are testing their spirit of collaboration.

One of the main benefits of membership of ECOWAS is the ability to travel freely between member states, and it is not yet clear how this will be affected by the departure of three countries from the Union.

Asked about the potential consequences in July, the President of the ECOWAS Commission said: ‘Leaving an agreement… in particular an agreement concerning free trade and the movement of people, entails the risk of losing these advantages’.

On Saturday, the three countries issued a joint statement saying that their territories would continue to be accessible without visas to other West African citizens.

Keep Reading

Since its creation in 1975, ECOWAS has been the main political authority in West Africa, and this division represents its greatest challenge to date, according to Babacar Ndiaye, a researcher at the Timbuktu Institute for Peace Studies in Senegal.

The likelihood of ECOWAS succeeding in reintegrating the three countries is low, mainly because the bloc is seeking a rapid return to democratic governance, which the military juntas have not committed themselves to, explained Mucahid Durmaz, senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk management consultancy.

Editor Spl

Recent Posts

Africa Aims to Produce 60% of Its Vaccines Locally by 2040 to Address Supply Chain Challenges

The African Union commits to boost local vaccine production across the continent to cover more than 60% of its needs…

February 24, 2025

Sudan crisis: Paramilitary RSF and allies sign charter to bring back ‘peace and unity’

Nearly a couple of years into a brutal conflict, Sudan is seeing an "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis. Half of the population…

February 24, 2025

US Secretary of State and Kenyan President discuss conflict in DR Congo

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President Ruto recently discussed the long-running conflict in the eastern Democratic…

February 22, 2025

Ancient Supernova May Have Sparked Viral Evolution in Africa’s Lake Tanganyika

Undergrad researcher Caitlyn Nojiri discovered that a supernova near Earth 2-3 million years ago could have created numerous new viruses…

February 22, 2025

Emirates SkyCargo and Astral Aviation Join Forces to Enhance African Trade Network

Emirates SkyCargo establishes better Africa market connections by partnering with Astral Aviation at Air Cargo Africa. At Air Cargo Africa,…

February 21, 2025

Afghanistan vs South Africa: Champions Trophy 2025 – Who Will Win?

South Africa begins its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign today (February 21) against Afghanistan, who are making their tournament debut.…

February 21, 2025