Why Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Are Quitting ECOWAS in 2025

The military Junta of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic has announced their permanent exit from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) in January 2025.

This was disclosed by the President of ECOWAS, Omar Touray, during the 66th Ordinary Session of the commission held on December 15 2024. 

Touray, reading the three countries’ communique to the regional bloc, revealed that the juntas seek to exit ECOWAS by January 29, 2025. However, the commission announced a six-month transition period to mediate with the Sahel countries.  

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 28, 2024, citing threats from ECOWAS against its military junta.

The Sahel countries have cited other reasons for seeking permanent exit from ECOWAS, which include; 

Response to ECOWAS Sanction

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger experienced military coups in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. Responding to the military take-over of government, ECOWAS sanctioned the Sahel countries. The sanctions placed on the military Juntas countries include border closure, Trade and commercial transaction halt, including those conducted through regional banks like the West Africa Central Bank, and military intervention if the Juntas don’t reinstate constitutional governance. 

Reacting to these sanctions, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger accused ECOWAS of imposing “inhumane” and “irresponsible” sanctions in an attempt to reverse the coup in their nations. 

Foreign Influence Allegation

The military Juntas criticised ECOWAS, accusing the bloc of being influenced by foreign powers, particularly France, which, according to the Sahel countries, had drifted ECOWAS from its founding principles “to promote cooperation and integration … to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability.” All three countries argue that the ECOWAS no longer represents the interests of its member states but of foreign powers.  Niger, the latest of the three Sahel countries, had demanded the exit of foreign bodies, including France, from its territory to govern itself and its people sovereignly. 

Alliance of Sahel States (AES)

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger further accused the ECOWAS of not supporting their fight against insecurity and terrorism, which had ravaged the countries. In response, they formed the “Alliance of Sahel States” to help each other and fight against insecurity across their states independently.  According to the Sahel States, the move signifies a shift towards self-reliance in security matters away from the regional bloc, which had withdrawn support from the states following their dislodge of constitutional governance to military take-over of government. 

State Sovereignty

In the communiqué read by Omar Touray, the three countries described their exit from ECOWAS as a “sovereign decision”. The military juntas assert their desire for national sovereignty and to make independent decisions regarding their country’s governance and international relations.  Although hitting the rock, Mali and Burkina Faso moved to state sovereignty to hold elections in March and July 2024. The country’s military governments cited prioritising extended transitional periods over a rush to return to civilian rule, which it believed had done more damage than good to the countries. 

Economic Issues:

Following trade sanctions from ECOWAS, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which relied heavily on trade and economic cooperation within the bloc, is seeking a means to review its economic relation with the bloc and other foreign countries. As landlocked countries, the Sahel countries contributed 8% to ECOWAS’s $761 billion GDP in 2022 due to the benefits of the Free Movement and Trade enjoyed with other ECOWAS member states. However, with the trade and economic sanctions on the countries, which took away their economic privileges with ECOWAS member states, the Sahel countries will renegotiate their economic relations with ECOWAS and other foreign bodies.