Three West African nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—have declared visa-free travel and residency rights for citizens of the ECOWAS regional bloc, despite their imminent withdrawal from the group.
The move comes ahead of the trio’s planned exit in January 2025.
The announcement was framed as an effort to maintain ties of friendship and honour the shared history among African nations. The military leaders of the three states, however, have reaffirmed that their decision to leave ECOWAS is “irreversible,” despite the bloc offering a six-month grace period to reconsider.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are founding members of ECOWAS, established in 1975. Their departure will significantly impact the bloc, reducing its population by 76 million people and cutting more than half its geographical land area.
At an ECOWAS summit in Nigeria, commission head Omar Touray called the impending exit “disheartening” but applauded ongoing mediation efforts led by Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé. Discussions between the bloc and the breakaway states are set to continue until July 2025.
The three nations, now forming the Alliance of Sahel States, have taken a sharp turn in their foreign relations, accusing ECOWAS of aligning too closely with Western powers. Instead, they have pivoted towards Russia for military and economic support as they face jihadist insurgencies in the region.
While ECOWAS is yet to decide on whether Sahel citizens will retain free movement within the bloc, the new Alliance of Sahel States has assured ECOWAS citizens of their right to travel, reside, and work in their territories.
The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger marks the first split in ECOWAS history, raising concerns about the future of regional cooperation. With tensions running high and the mediation clock ticking, all eyes remain on the path these nations will chart in the months ahead.