In response, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced their exit last January and accused ECOWAS of failing to safeguard member states and of aligning too closely with foreign powers.

Following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, ECOWAS outlined four key measures to maintain regional cooperation and minimize disruptionsCitizens of the three nations can still travel visa-free within ECOWAS,

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged its member states not to close their doors to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which recently exited the bloc .