ECOWAS has given Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger a period of six months, from January 29 to July 29, 2025, to reassess their choice to withdraw from the regional organization.
On Sunday in Abuja, during the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, Dr. Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, declared a six-month grace period.
He said, "The Authority takes note of the notification by the Republic of Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali and Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.
"The Authority acknowledges that by the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.
"The Authority decides to set the period from January 29, 2025 to July 29, 2025, as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period.
"In this regard, the Authority extends the mandate of the President of Togo and the President of Senegal to continue their mediation role up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.
"Without prejudice to the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the end of the deadline of January 29 2025 and to draw up a contingency plan covering various areas.
"The Authority directs the Council of Ministers to convene an Extraordinary Session during the 2nd quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso.“