ABUJA, NIGERIA-ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has acknowledged the irreversible withdrawal requests by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Recently, the three junta states declared their intentions to leave the regional bloc, something that poses a serious challenge to ECOWAS’s principle of integration and regional unity.
But, at the close of the 66th Summit of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday, December 15, 2024, the leaders finally agreed to draw up formalities for the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Reading a decision from the communique at the Summit, ECOWSA Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, said:” The transitional period for their final withdrawal will run from January 29 to July 2025. But during the transitional period, the doors of ECOWAS will remain open for any reconsideration of the decision by the three countries.”
According to him, the Presidents of Senegal and Togo, Bassirou Diamaye Faye and Faure Gnassingnbe, will continue diplomatic engagements as instructed by the Authority Chairman, President Bola Tinubu.
At the same time, the Authority Chairman has urged his colleagues in the region to hold together.
President Tinubu said: “As an institution, and the region itself, are in a situation that unravels its unity.”
Speaking at the close of the Summit, the Nigerian President commended fellow leaders for their unwavering support of his chairmanship.
President Bola Tinubu called on leaders to foster the cause of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous West Africa by prioritizing democracy and good governance.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria said the next ECOWAS Summit is expected to take place in July 2025, with revenue to be determined soon.
Liberia has also renewed calls for intense backdoor diplomacy to stop the imminent exit of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
The country’s position was made known by Minister Beysolow-Nyanti at the close of the two meetings.
She said:” While it is true the three countries are insistent on leaving ECOWAS, diplomatic efforts must be made against such a decision.”
Madam Beysolow-Nyanti disclosed that Liberia is one of few countries tasked to continue diplomatic engagements with the three countries that have organized themselves under the Association of Sahel States.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow-Nyanti promised to brief President Joseph Boakai on the situation.
Meanwhile, a review of the Community Levy Remittance Records by ECOWAS member states shows significant improvement for Liberia.
It is a 0.5% tax imposed on goods from the non-ECOWAS Member States and constitutes between 70 and 90% of the ECOWAS budget.
ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah told ELBC that Liberia has leapfrogged from the red to the green zone for regularly remitting taxes collected on behalf of ECOWAS.
Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah lauded the Minister of Finance who accompanied the Foreign Minister at the Council of Ministers Meeting for ensuring that Liberia is current with raising lawful revenue for the Bloc.