AES Rejects ECOWAS’ 6-Month Transition Proposal, Confirms January 2025 Exit

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have rejected a proposal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a six-month transition period before the three countries withdraw from the regional bloc.

The three nations which formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confirmed they would leave ECOWAS in January 2025.

In a statement issued by the College of Heads of State of the Confederation of Sahel States, the AGS criticised the ECOWAS proposal as “a new attempt to allow the French junta and its allies to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES.”

The statement further accused certain ECOWAS leaders of initiating “destabilisation manoeuvres” and imposing their foreign policy priorities on the bloc, undermining the sovereignty of the AES member states.

The college reaffirmed its commitment to defending the sovereignty of the people of the confederation.

Earlier, in July, the prime minister of Burkina Faso declared that his country had exited ECOWAS because of the bloc’s neocolonialist perspectives, as reported by his office. He added that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger existed prior to the establishment of ECOWAS and are capable of continuing without it.

on December 15, during their ordinary session in Abuja, ECOWAS heads of state took note of the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. They gave the countries an additional six months in the hope that they would reverse this decision.

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