ABUJA, Nigeria — On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanctioned a timeline for the departure of three nations that have experienced coups over the past year, marking a significant response to ongoing tensions within the regional bloc. This decision follows nearly twelve months of diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a potential fracture within the organization, which has been in operation for almost five decades.
In a groundbreaking move, the military governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso declared their intent to exit ECOWAS last January. They accused the bloc of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coups while also failing to assist with their domestic security challenges. During the recent summit held in Abuja, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray announced that the transition period for these countries would span from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, emphasizing that the bloc remains open to these nations during this timeframe.
Despite ECOWAS’s efforts to mend relationships, the three nations have shown little intention of reversing their decision. They are now looking into formulating their own travel documents independent of the ECOWAS framework and are proactively considering the establishment of a new alliance. Their one-year notice period, which began earlier this year, is expected to conclude in January 2025.
Touray applauded the tireless work of ECOWAS’s envoys in addressing the crisis, stating that these endeavors highlight the collective dedication to maintaining peace and unity across the region. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who also presides over ECOWAS, remarked on the global and regional challenges that test the bloc’s cohesion. He emphasized the need for the organization to prioritize its fundamental duty to ensure the safety and prosperity of its citizenry.
A significant advantage of being an ECOWAS member is the free movement of people among member states. However, the impact of the three nations withdrawing from the bloc on this arrangement remains ambiguous. In response to inquiries regarding potential changes, the ECOWAS Commission president acknowledged the risks associated with exiting such agreements, indicating that withdrawing might jeopardize existing benefits.
In a collective statement issued on Saturday, the governments of the three countries stated that they would maintain visa-free access for West African citizens traveling into their territories but noted their right to deny entry to any ECOWAS national deemed inadmissible.
This situation presents one of the most significant challenges ECOWAS has faced since its inception in 1975, according to Babacar Ndiaye, a senior fellow at the Timbuktu Institute for Peace Studies in Senegal. The likelihood of reintegrating the three nations into the bloc appears slim, primarily due to ECOWAS’s commitment to a prompt return to democratic governance, a principle the military regimes currently in control have not shown willingness to uphold. Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, warned that allowing these juntas to retain their authority could lead to further division in the region, while recognizing them could compromise ECOWAS’s foundational values.
Critics argue that ECOWAS’s inconsistent actions regarding the coups in the region suggest that its responses may be influenced more by the political aspirations of its member states than by the organization’s core mission to foster democratic governance. Durmaz expressed concern over the bloc’s management of this delicate situation, citing a need for a more principled approach.