The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) began a two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday to deliberate on the withdrawal of three member nations Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, from the regional bloc.
In a statement issued the same day, ECOWAS announced that the meeting would focus on the modalities of the withdrawal and its implications for ECOWAS institutions and agencies operating in the exiting countries.
The bloc also revealed plans to set up a structure to facilitate discussions with each of the three countries to manage the exit process. The ongoing session aims to address both administrative concerns and broader regional implications stemming from the departure of the junta-led nations.
The meeting comes three weeks after the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), formed by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, introduced a 0.5 per cent import levy on goods from ECOWAS member countries, excluding humanitarian aid, a move widely seen as a countermeasure to ECOWAS trade policies.
The three countries formally announced their departure from ECOWAS in January 2025, raising concerns about regional unity, security, and economic integration.
Further discussions in Accra are expected to address related issues of regional importance as the bloc navigates the unprecedented development.
