ECOWAS is calling on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to rethink their decision to leave the bloc and has left the door open for their return by July 29, 2025.
The three countries, which formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) earlier this year, can rejoin ECOWAS without fresh negotiations if they reverse their withdrawal by the deadline.
Speaking at a High-Level Policy Dialogue in Accra, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, emphasized the need to preserve regional ties, revealing that citizens of the AES nations are still permitted free movement across ECOWAS borders.
He added that collaboration on security and humanitarian issues remains vital.
