The three military-led West African nations – Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The regional bloc disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
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This brings to an end a year-long attempt by ECOWAS to convince the countries to reconsider leaving the bloc.
ECOWAS, however, said it intends to “keep its door open” if any of the countries want to return to its fold.
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Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso first announced their decision to leave ECOWAS in early 2024, following months of tension between the countries and the regional bloc.
The juntas in all three nations had accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and of imposing sanctions that they claim harmed their populations. They also rejected ECOWAS’ request to reconsider their decision to leave the bloc.
ECOWAS initially imposed sanctions on the three countries following successful military coups there but later withdrew the sanctions in an effort to get the countries not to leave the bloc.
New guidelines
The regional bloc has also issued guidelines on its relationship with the three countries and transitional measures to minimize disruptions for citizens and businesses.
Despite their withdrawal, ECOWAS said goods and services from the three countries will still be treated under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.
The ETLS is a regional trade framework designed to promote duty-free and quota-free movement of goods and services among ECOWAS member states.
The regional bloc also said citizens from these nations will retain their visa-free movement, residence, and other rights within ECOWAS states fully based on the existing protocols.
The bloc also stated that it will continue to “recognise National passports and identity cards bearing ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, until further notice.”
The guidelines also allow ECOWAS officials to work in partnership with the countries and provide support when needed.
ECOWAS noted that these arrangements will be in place until the full modalities of the relations between the three countries and the bloc are finalised.
“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,” ECOWAS said.
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Creation of AES
Last year, the military leaders of the three nations formed the Alliance for Sahel State (Alliance États du Sahel – AES) as a new defence pact.
The leaders described the newly signed treaty as a step “towards greater integration” between the three countries.
The Niger Republic head of state, Abdourahmane Tchiani, stated that the AES was created because the member states consider ECOWAS “a threat to our states.”
He said the countries would rather “create an AES of the peoples, instead of an ECOWAS whose directives and instructions are dictated to it by powers foreign to Africa.”
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