President Omar Touray will brief the media today on the exit of the three Sahel States.
These three countries were suspended by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2024 following military coups that ousted their elected governments.
The Head of Communication at the ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji, had confirmed that letters had been sent requesting meetings with the junta-led governments of the three countries.
“ECOWAS has sent letters requesting meetings. We are awaiting official responses from the countries,” Ahofodji said. When asked if the nations had reached out to reconsider their exit, he responded, “No.”
This diplomatic effort comes as ECOWAS prepares to approve the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, following the expiration of the one-year notice period required by Article 91 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty.
The bloc had set a six-month transitional period, which ends on July 29, 2025, to finalise the withdrawal protocols and explore potential reconciliation.
At the conclusion of its 66th Ordinary Session in December 2024, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, expressed the bloc’s continued willingness to engage with the three countries during the transition.
(The PUNCH)
