The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains hopeful that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will rejoin the regional bloc, despite their recent withdrawal, officials said during ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Nigeria on Wednesday.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar downplayed the impact of the trio’s exit, emphasizing the bloc’s continued progress. “Much has been made of the departure of three member states, but democracy is a journey, not a one-time event,” Tuggar said.
ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray also struck a conciliatory tone, expressing confidence in future unity. “Even without our brothers who left, we recognize the importance of staying together as part of the West African family,” he said.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—now aligned under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—formally announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, citing dissatisfaction with sanctions and foreign interference following military takeovers in their countries. Their departure became official on January 29, 2025.
Despite the break, ECOWAS has set a transition period until July 29, 2025, in a bid to keep dialogue open and encourage the trio to reconsider.
The AES, established in 2023 as a mutual defense alliance, has since evolved into a confederation. It aims to deepen regional cooperation across defense, economic, and social sectors. The bloc has also proposed deploying a 5,000-strong joint force to combat terrorism and is pursuing further integration initiatives, including a shared passport and a joint media platform to counter misinformation.
While the AES countries have distanced themselves from ECOWAS and other international bodies such as the Francophonie, ECOWAS leaders remain committed to regional unity and hopeful that the path to reconciliation remains open.