The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains hopeful about the return of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, despite their official withdrawal from the bloc on January 29, 2024. At ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary celebrations in Abuja, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar praised the bloc’s contributions to regional stability and emphasized that democracy across West Africa is a “continuous, evolving process.” ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray reiterated the organization’s commitment to regional unity, announcing that the bloc had established a transition window until July 29, 2025, to continue dialogue with the breakaway states now united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The AES—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—was formally transformed into a confederation on July 6, 2024, with a mandate to deepen military, economic, and social integration among its members. The alliance is advancing key projects, including a 5,000-strong joint anti-terrorism force, a shared passport, and a state-run digital television network to counter regional misinformation.
The three military-led countries cited ECOWAS sanctions, political interference, and perceived neocolonial influence, particularly by France, as motives for their withdrawal. They have since also exited the International Organization of La Francophonie, signaling a shift in foreign alliances. Despite the political rupture, ECOWAS leaders remain focused on restoring ties, citing economic interdependence and shared regional threats as key reasons to pursue reconciliation with the AES bloc.
