Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from ECOWAS, and while they will continue to recognise each other’s passports and maintain trade liberalisation, the region must now negotiate. The three countries that are being governed by the military junta in West Africa, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, have formally withdrawn their membership from the Economic
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn from ECOWAS, and while they will continue to recognise each other’s passports and maintain trade liberalisation, the region must now negotiate.
The three countries that are being governed by the military junta in West Africa, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, have formally withdrawn their membership from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday, 29th, 2025, following their notification to the regional bloc a year ago.
The West African regional community announced the new development today, having waited for one year as stated in its constitution before acknowledging any country that has decided to opt out of the regional bloc, ending all the attempts to convince the countries to rescind their decision to leave the community.
However, ECOWAS, in a statement, has said it intends to keep the flag of solidarity between its countries and the three withdrawing countries as it will also keep the door of engagement open with the countries.
As a result, the bloc asked its countries to “recognise national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo held by the citizens of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger, until further notice.
Keep treating goods and services from the three countries in line with the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). The investment policy lets people from the three countries that are affected continue to travel, live, and work without a visa in line with the ECOWAS protocols until further notice. We will provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three countries in their assignments for the Community.
“These arrangements will remain in force until the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government fully determines the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries.”The Commission has established a structure to facilitate discussions on these modalities with each of the three countries. This message is necessary to prevent confusion and disruption in the lives and businesses of our people during this transition period.
The relationship between the three countries and the regional bloc went sour after the military leaders took power in their different countries, which occurred in July 2023 in Niger, September 2022 in Burkina Faso, and August 2021 in Mali, leading to their suspension both in ECOWAS and the continental body. The development also witnessed the regional bloc threatening to use force to restore democracy in the country.
As a result of their suspension, the junta-led countries formed the Alliance for the Sahel State (Alliance États du Sahel, or AES) as a new body to legitimise their government and solidify their security—a way to become independent of the ECOWAS, which they accused of yielding to international interests instead of prioritising its regional needs.
The withdrawal of the three countries has raised concerns about the regional bloc’s viability and strength; it has not seen such a withdrawal since its formation in 1975 by 15 West African countries with the goal of promoting economic integration among members.
Despite the bloc’s reputation, its struggles in recent years to reverse the military coups that erupted in the region’s three countries have called into question the bloc’s ability to continue to serve as a mediator in the region.
Meanwhile, the sour relationship between the three countries and the bloc has affected Nigeria’s relationship with the countries. Nigeria, whose president currently serves as the bloc’s chairman, has recently been accused by the junta-led Niger Republic of conspiring with the French government to destabilise its administration.
The Nigerian government has refuted the allegations, deeming them baseless and false. Insecurity in the country’s north reflects the two countries’ strained relationship. Before the junta-led administration spearheaded the joint military operations between the two countries to combat insurgency, the relationship between Nigeria and Niger was smooth.
However, strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger have also had an impact. Operations are underway to combat the insurgents as they continue to expand in the northern part of the country, which also shares a border with the Niger Republic.
