Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have made a surprise move by announcing visa-free travel and residency rights for citizens of the 15-member ECOWAS bloc, despite their impending withdrawal from the regional organization. This decision is seen as a gesture of “friendship” and an effort to “strengthen centuries-old ties between the people of Africa”.
The three countries had announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January, citing the bloc’s “inhumane and irresponsible” coup sanctions and its failure to address their internal security challenges. ECOWAS has been pushing for a return to democratic governance, which the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have resisted.
The one-year notice for their departure is set to expire in January 2025, but according to Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, a transitional period will run from January 29, 2025, to July 29, 2025, leaving the door open for the three nations to rejoin the bloc.
This latest development has raised eyebrows, given the tense relationship between the three countries and ECOWAS. However, it may be a sign that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are willing to maintain ties with their West African neighbors, even if they are no longer part of the ECOWAS bloc.
