ECOWAS approves withdrawal of member states by next January

A statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, on Sunday, revealed that Dr. Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced a six-month grace period for the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This announcement came after the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja.

The decision follows the expiration of the one-year statutory period since the three countries first submitted their withdrawal notice. ECOWAS stated that, under Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members on January 29, 2025. However, a transitional period will run from January 29 to July 29, 2025, during which ECOWAS will keep its doors open for the countries to return. During this period, the Presidents of Togo and Senegal will continue their mediation efforts to bring these countries back into the organization.

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After this transition, ECOWAS will proceed with withdrawal formalities, including a contingency plan for managing political and economic relations with the three countries. The ECOWAS Council of Ministers will convene in the second quarter of 2025 to finalize the modalities for the separation and the contingency plan.

Article 91 requires that a member state wishing to withdraw from ECOWAS formally notify the Authority of Heads of State and Government, with the withdrawal taking effect one year after the notice. This waiting period allows the withdrawing country to address its financial and legal obligations to ECOWAS.

ECOWAS leaders praised the diplomatic efforts of Senegal’s President Bassirou Faye and Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, as well as those of ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, and other individual member states. In his closing remarks, President Tinubu commended the leaders for their discussions, emphasizing unity and commitment to address the region’s challenges. He urged all member states to ensure the decisions made in the Summit benefit their citizens.

Additionally, President Tinubu congratulated outgoing African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat and expressed appreciation for Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, referring to him as “Mr. Democrat,” and wishing him continued success.