The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has rejected the withdrawal timeline proposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing it of being a ploy to destabilize their new alliance.
At a summit held last week in Abuja, Nigeria, ECOWAS announced a six-month withdrawal window to encourage the three nations to reconsider their decision following their official exit scheduled for January 2025.
However, the AES heads of state dismissed the timeline, describing it as “another attempt by France and its allies to orchestrate destabilizing actions against the AES.” They stated in a communiqué that the decision was “unilateral and not binding” and reiterated that their departure from ECOWAS was “irreversible.”
ECOWAS, through its Commission President, described the withdrawal period as a “transition phase” until July 29, 2025, aimed at keeping communication channels open with the AES nations.
The three nations criticized ECOWAS for imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to recent coups and failing to address their internal security crises. In response, they have rejected the bloc’s efforts to reverse their withdrawal and are advancing plans for independent travel documentation while solidifying their alliance.
Although membership in ECOWAS provides significant benefits, such as visa-free movement within member states, it remains unclear how this will be impacted once Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger officially leave the bloc.
