ECOWAS noted that if during the transition period the three Sahel countries decide to rejoin the community, they would be readmitted.

The Economic Community of West African States hopes to use this time to convince the three nations to stay in the bloc.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso reaffirmed their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS, declaring it irreversible. The trio have announced visa-free travel and residency rights for citizens of the 15-member ECOWAS bloc.

Kasashen Burkina Faso, Mali, da Jamhuriyar Nijar zasu kammala ficewa daga kungiyar ECOWAS baki daya a shekara mai kamawa ta 2025. Shugaban ECOWAS, Alieu

ECOWAS also extended the mandate of the presidents of Togo and Senegal to continue their mediation role up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back.

ECOWAS has approved Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso's withdrawal from the bloc from January 2025, sets a transitional period ending July 2025.

The West African countries has concluded plan to exit from the regional block, ECOWAS. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic announced the due date.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic will stop being members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2025. President of ECOWAS commission, Alieu Touray, made the announcement on Sunday during the 66th ordinary session of heads of states and governments in Abuja.