Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three junta-led African countries, have announced visa-free travel and residency rights for citizens of the 15-member ECOWAS bloc.
This decision, made in the spirit of friendship and to strengthen historical ties among African nations, comes despite their planned withdrawal from ECOWAS. The military-led governments of these countries are resisting the bloc’s push to restore democratic governance.
ECOWAS leaders are currently meeting in Nigeria to discuss the situation, with concerns that the departure of these three nations could significantly weaken regional unity and efforts to enhance economic integration and security cooperation.
The exit of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso will reduce ECOWAS’s population by 76 million, decreasing the bloc’s total population from 446 million and cutting its geographic land area by more than half.
Despite their withdrawal, the three countries have pledged to maintain visa-free access for ECOWAS citizens.
On Saturday, they reiterated that their departure from the bloc is irreversible, but they emphasized their commitment to facilitating free movement across their borders.
Ongoing struggles with ECOWAS
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will enter a six-month grace period after their scheduled exit from ECOWAS, West Africa’s main political and economic bloc.
While January 29 remains the official withdrawal date, the effective exit has been extended to July 29. During this transitional period, ECOWAS mediators will work to reintegrate the three countries into the bloc “without prejudice,” according to ECOWAS Commission President Oumar Touray after the summit.
