ECOWAS Meets In Ghana Over Withdrawal Of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers has gathered in Accra, Ghana, to discuss the formal exit of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the regional bloc.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, who chairs the Council, disclosed this in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir.
He said the meeting follows a directive from the Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 66th Ordinary Session, instructing the Council to outline modalities and contingency plans for the withdrawal of the three Sahel nations.
Tuggar explained that the ECOWAS Commission would present memoranda on the disengagement process, suspension of programmes in the three countries, and issues concerning free movement of people, goods, and services.
He added that the Council would also deliberate on relocating ECOWAS institutions currently operating in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
“This session represents a difficult chapter in ECOWAS history. It is not our desire to lose member states, but we must adapt to this reality under their current military governments,” Tuggar stated.
He called for unity and renewal among member states, insisting that ECOWAS remains Africa’s most integrated regional bloc, anchored on shared political, economic, and security goals.
“Our task now is to preserve ECOWAS’s legacy and strengthen it for future generations. We’ve overcome past challenges before, and we will again,” he said.
Tuggar urged ministers to engage constructively and ensure the smooth implementation of the withdrawal process, stressing that ECOWAS remains the key platform for addressing West Africa’s challenges.
He also acknowledged the government and people of Ghana for hosting the session, held on the sidelines of the “ECOWAS@50” celebration.
The three military-led countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 29 after forming the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023.
Their exit reduces ECOWAS membership from 15 to 12.
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