Breaking: ECOWAS Agrees To Niger, Mali, And Burkina Faso’s Exit; Tinubu Delivers N85bn Levy

Breaking: ECOWAS Agrees To Niger, Mali, And Burkina Faso’s Exit; Tinubu Delivers N85bn Levy

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially given Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso a deadline of July 2025 to reconsider their decision to leave the regional bloc. A recent ECOWAS summit, held in Abuja, revealed that while these countries plan to withdraw,…Breaking: ECOWAS Agrees To Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso’s Exit; Tinubu Delivers N85bn Levy

they will officially cease membership by January 29, 2025.

The announcement, made during the 66th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, was followed by a communiqué detailing a transitional period running from January 29 to July 29, 2025. During this time, ECOWAS will keep its doors open, urging the three countries to re-engage with the organization.

Leaders from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal, along with other high-ranking officials, attended the summit to discuss the matter. The communiqué also stated that Presidents Faure Gnassingbé of Togo and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal will continue mediation efforts aimed at bringing the three countries back into ECOWAS.

Despite this opportunity for reconsideration, the three breakaway nations have reiterated their decision, forming their own alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), after cutting ties with France and aligning more with Russia. Their growing frustration with ECOWAS stems from tensions surrounding a series of military coups in the region and ECOWAS’ response, including sanctions and threats of military intervention.

Ambassador Suleiman Dahiru, a former Nigerian diplomat, predicts that the full withdrawal of these states could significantly impact regional mobility and trade, as citizens may soon require visas to move freely between ECOWAS nations. While the security situation in the Sahel is unlikely to change drastically, he cautioned that further defections from Francophone nations could follow.

In a related development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria announced that Nigeria has paid a 100% levy contribution to ECOWAS for the first time in 19 years. This payment, totaling N85 billion and $54 million, underlines Nigeria’s continued commitment to regional integration and leadership within ECOWAS.

As West Africa navigates this challenging phase, the eyes of the world remain on how the ECOWAS bloc will handle these evolving dynamics, with the potential for both increased instability and opportunities for new alliances.

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