On Wednesday, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS officially recognized the departure of three of its former members—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—effective from January 29, 2025, following the completion of their one-year notice period.
However, in the spirit of regional cooperation, ECOWAS requested that its member countries continue to recognize the national passports of citizens from these three countries bearing the ECOWAS logo until further notice.
In a statement, ECOWAS also announced that its doors remain open for further engagement with the three countries. The bloc requested its member states to:
- Recognize national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger until further notice.
- Treat goods and services from these countries in line with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.
- Allow citizens of the three countries to continue enjoying visa-free movement, residence, and establishment rights according to ECOWAS protocols until further notice.
- Provide full support to ECOWAS officials from these countries during their assignments.
These arrangements will remain in place until the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government determines the future engagement modalities with the three countries.
The ECOWAS Commission has set up a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities.
The statement emphasized that this was necessary to prevent confusion and disruption for the people and businesses during this transition period.
The departure of the three countries, alongside Mali, has fractured the region and left ECOWAS with an uncertain future.
In January 2024, the three junta-led countries formally informed ECOWAS of their intention to leave immediately, citing the bloc’s excessive reliance on France.
The three regimes have now shifted their allegiances to countries such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran, with France becoming a common adversary.
ECOWAS required a one-year notice for the departure to be valid, which culminated on Wednesday.
The three Sahel nations have since formed a new alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
In Niger, thousands of people, led by military leaders, gathered in the capital, Niamey, before heading to the national assembly in support of the move.
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