West Africa’s regional bloc, ECOWAS, has established a transition timeline for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three nations under military rule. This decision follows nearly a year of mediation efforts aimed at preserving unity within the bloc.
Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, announced that the transitional period for the coup-affected nations will span from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025. Touray acknowledged the challenges, describing the situation as “disheartening” during the summit’s opening in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday.
The three nations had previously announced plans to exit ECOWAS, citing dissatisfaction with sanctions and the bloc’s perceived inability to address their security crises. Despite the withdrawal notice, ECOWAS has kept avenues open for dialogue.
Membership in ECOWAS provides benefits such as visa-free travel and regional trade advantages. However, the exit of these countries raises questions about the future of these privileges. In a joint statement on Saturday, the three nations assured that their borders would remain open to West African citizens but reserved the right to restrict entry to individuals deemed inadmissible.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s president and ECOWAS chairman, urged member states to prioritize regional stability. “Our primary responsibility is to safeguard our citizens and create an environment where they can thrive,” he said.
Experts believe the division marks the most significant challenge in ECOWAS’s nearly 50-year history. Babacar Ndiaye, a senior fellow at the Timbuktu Institute for Peace Studies, highlighted the unprecedented nature of this rift.
Analysts suggest the bloc’s demand for a swift return to democracy has created tensions with the military juntas, which show no signs of relinquishing power. Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, warned that allowing the juntas to remain could lead to further fragmentation, while recognizing them would undermine ECOWAS’s core principles.
Durmaz also criticized ECOWAS’s inconsistent responses to regional coups, attributing them to the political priorities of its member states rather than a unified commitment to democratic governance.
The departure of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS represents a pivotal moment for the bloc, testing its ability to navigate one of its most significant crises.
