Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic to Withdraw from ECOWAS by 2025.

In a significant development, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic have announced their intention to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by the year 2025. This announcement was made by Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, during the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of States and Governments held in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 15, 2024.

The withdrawal process for these three nations is scheduled to occur between January 29 and July 29, 2025. This timeline allows for potential diplomatic negotiations and mediations that may arise during the transition.

In a related context, the Nigerian government has recently allocated ₦85 billion (approximately $54 million) as a community levy to ECOWAS. President Touray confirmed this financial commitment during his opening remarks at the Abuja session. This payment represents Nigeria’s levy obligations from January 2023 through July 2024 and marks the first instance in 19 years that Nigeria has fulfilled 100 percent of its community levy.

President Touray praised this development as a testament to the leadership of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and the commitment of the Nigerian government and its citizens to the ECOWAS community. As the region navigates these changes, the implications of the withdrawal and the financial contributions will undoubtedly shape the future dynamics of West African cooperation.