The newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has firmly rejected the timetable proposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for their withdrawal from the regional bloc. At a summit held in Abuja last week, ECOWAS set a six-month window after the official departure deadline in January 2025, urging the three nations to reconsider their exit.
However, the AES leadership regards this ECOWAS directive as an attempt by external powers to undermine their nascent coalition. In a statement, the AES accused French interests and allied forces of orchestrating “destabilizing actions against the Alliance.” The three member states insist that the decision to leave ECOWAS is “irreversible” and argue that the ECOWAS withdrawal plan is neither valid nor enforceable.
ECOWAS leaders described this period as a transition that would keep lines of communication open until July 29, 2025, while emphasizing the benefits of membership, such as free movement between member countries. In recent months, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have voiced frustration over what they call harsh sanctions imposed in response to military coups within their borders, along with the bloc’s inability to address their ongoing security challenges.
In the meantime, the AES members are exploring ways to replace ECOWAS travel documents and create new mechanisms to advance regional integration on their own terms. It remains unclear how the departure might affect cross-border travel and economic cooperation, although the AES insists it has the capacity to develop alternative frameworks.