By Seyi Odewale
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, in Abuja yesterday, accepted the withdrawal of three of its members, who indicated their withdrawal from the sub-regional body. The countries are Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
According to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, the authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government set January 29, 2025 to July 29, 2025 as transitional period to keep ECOWAS doors open to Burkina Faso, Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger if they wish to return to the fold. However, the three countries were absent at the regional meeting.
Dr Touray, who read the communique at the end of the session, which was held at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the authority had taken note of the notification by the three countries of their decision to withdraw from the ECOWAS.
He said authorities acknowledged that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries would officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from January 29, 2025.
“In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President for Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.
“Without prejudice, for the spirit of the opening, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to launch withdrawal formalities after the deadline of January 29, 2025 and to draw up a contingency plan covering various areas.
“The Authority directs the Council of Ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso,” said Touray.
He said the authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government commended the exemplary diplomatic engagement of Bassirou Faye, President of Senegal, Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic.
He said the Authority also commended the diplomatic efforts of the chairman of authority, President Bola Tinubu and other individual member states towards the three countries.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, Touray said, has paid its ECOWAS community levy of N85 billion and $54 million, representing 2023 and up to July 2024, adding that Nigeria for the first time in 19 years paid 100 per cent of its levy.
“For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria decided to pay 100 per cent of its community levy up to 2023. The money was paid on Friday, December 13, 2024. This payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to the ECOWAS community.
“At a more personal level, it underscores a mark of confidence in the ECOWAS that I have been privileged to lead since 2022. My colleagues and I are deeply grateful,” he said.
In his remark, President Tinubu said the strength of the commission was in the unity of members, and ECOWAS was born out of a shared vision to create a community for citizens.
He said: “The world is confronted with challenges ranging from crisis, Sudan, Middle East and violent extremism and environmental challenges.
“Many of the challenges have impacted our region and the reality underscores the reality of working together.”
President Tinubu, who is the Chairman ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, also called for cooperation among the ECOWAS member states in protecting their citizens and providing an enabling environment for the citizens to thrive.
He noted that the economic cooperation has been bolstered by the various ECOWAS policies, and commended Ghana and Senegal for holding successful presidential and parliamentary elections respectively.
According to him, raising the living standards of the citizens was an obligation on the part of the citizens, urging countries in the region to learn from Ghana’s democratic examples.
Describing President Akufo-Addo as ‘Mr Democrat,’ President Tinubu, who is commended his Ghanaian counterpart for his selfless leadership and for allowing the will of the people to prevail.
Akufo-Addo attended the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for the last time as President of Ghana.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray lauded President Tinubu’s efforts and the Nigerian government for always supporting the efforts of the regional body.
He also thanked the efforts of the outgoing President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, who would leave office on January 7, 2025.
“This needs to be reversed. The good news is that for the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has decided to pay 100 per cent of its community levy from 2023. I am therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13th, Nigeria paid N85 billion and 54 million representing 100 per cent of the 2023 levy and the levy of 2024 up to July 2024.
“We all agree that this payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Ahmed Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to our community.
At a more personal level, it represents a mark of confidence on the management that I have been privileged to lead since 2022. My colleague and I are deeply grateful and I thank you for your attention,” Touray stated.
