The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government has approved January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, as a transitional period for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, made this known while reading the communique at the end of the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Touray said the authority had taken note of the notification by the three countries of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS.

Touray said authorities acknowledged that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries would officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.

He stated: “In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President Gnassingbe of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.

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“Without prejudice, for the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after 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 second 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, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso.”

Touray said ECOWAS Heads of State and Government commended the diplomatic engagement of Senegal’s President, Bassirou Faye, and President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe.

He said the authority also commended the diplomatic efforts of ECOWAS chairman, President Bola Tinubu, and other individual member states towards the three countries.

The Star