By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced that the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc officially took effect on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
One year ago, the three Sahel nations declared their withdrawal from ECOWAS, and now they have taken a further step by introducing a common passport under the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS).
ECOWAS, however, noted that it remains open to dialogue “for the spirit of regional solidarity.”
Despite the introduction of the new passport, ECOWAS has urged authorities within and outside its member states to continue recognizing the ECOWAS-branded national passports and identity cards of citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The bloc also called for the continuation of visa-free movement, residency, and trade benefits for these countries “until further notice.”
The new Sahel passport is expected to become operational from January 29, replacing the ECOWAS passport for citizens of the three countries.
However, authorities in the Sahel states have assured that existing ECOWAS passports will remain valid until their expiration dates.On January 28, hundreds of pro-junta demonstrators in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger took to the streets to express support for their governments’ decision to leave ECOWAS.
In Niger, military officials led thousands of supporters to the capital, Niamey, where they chanted slogans critical of French President Emmanuel Macron and other regional leaders.
A similar demonstration occurred in Burkina Faso, where Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo and other government officials joined thousands of citizens in a rally in Ouagadougou.
Although no major protests were reported in Mali, observers expect further developments in the coming days.
The departure of these three countries from ECOWAS marks a significant shift in regional dynamics.
Experts warn that the move could disrupt regional integration, complicate trade, and increase travel restrictions.
“Now, the three countries will lose the duty-free trade benefits that ECOWAS members enjoy,” one analyst noted, adding that the landlocked nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger may face higher costs for accessing coastal ports in West African countries like Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana.
According to ECOWAS Trade Information Systems (ECOTIS), Mali recorded $3.91 billion in exports and $6.45 billion in imports in 2022, while Burkina Faso had $4.55 billion in exports and $5.63 billion in imports.
Niger, with a smaller economy, exported goods worth $446.14 million while importing $3.79 billion worth of goods.
With their departure from ECOWAS, these nations may face additional tariffs and trade barriers.ECOWAS introduced its regional passport in December 2000, allowing visa-free movement across member states and granting citizens the right to stay in another member country for up to three months.
With the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, travel restrictions may now come into effect, especially for citizens of these countries and West Africans wishing to visit the Sahel region.
The bloc has given the three countries a six-month grace period, extending until July 2025, to reconsider their decision in case they wish to rejoin.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS has put structures in place to facilitate discussions with the departing nations to minimize disruptions to lives and businesses during the transition period.