The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed a Chief Negotiator to oversee the orderly withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional bloc.

The decision was made during the 67th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, held on Sunday in Abuja.

According to the final communique signed by the Authority after the Sunday session and made available yesterday, the appointment aimed to ensure that the exit process of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) safeguards institutional and citizens’ interests while minimizing disruptions to regional markets.

The Authority endorsed the recommendation from the Extraordinary Session of the Council regarding the Chief Negotiator’s role.

It also directed the President of the Commission to engage in constructive dialogue with the three countries to restore trust and confidence among ECOWAS member states.

“The Chief Negotiator will be assisted by a Ministerial Troika and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, along with a technical team, and will work in line with the ECOWAS Negotiation Mandate,” the communique stated.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had, on January 29, 2025, formally withdrawn from ECOWAS, citing dissatisfaction with ECOWAS leadership and accusing it of being influenced by foreign powers as reasons for their exit.

The recent move by ECOWAS was seen as crucial in maintaining stability and cooperation among member states during this transitional period.

In addition to the negotiations, the Authority addressed pressing security concerns in the region, condemning recent terrorist attacks and reaffirming its commitment to eradicating the terrorist menace within the ECOWAS space.

“We commend the continuous efforts by member states in tackling insecurity and express condolences to the families of the victims of terrorism,” the communique read in part.

The session highlighted the need for a concerted response to terrorism, with the Authority calling for the activation of the Regional Counterterrorism Force.

“The Authority commends Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TCCs and PCCs) for their pledges towards the activation of the Regional Counterterrorism Force.

“The Authority expresses concern about the slow pace of activation of the Standby Force and calls for decisive action. In this regard, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to expedite the meeting of ECOWAS Finance and Defence Ministers without further delay to agree on modalities for mobilising internal resources to ensure the speedy activation of the Force,” the communique partly read.

In the meantime, it further directed the Commission to provide financial assistance to member states affected by terrorism for the acquisition of materials to fight terrorism, and to address the humanitarian situation arising from the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons within the region.

“The Authority commends the Commission for the implementation of the West African Police Information Systems (WAPIS) and urges the Commission to ensure ownership, sustainability, and the secure operations of the system. The Authority further endorses the Supplementary Act on the WAPIS regional platform,” it stated.

On maritime security, ECOWAS took note of the steps taken to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, directing the Commission to facilitate a regional approach to negotiate fisheries agreements with third parties.

It also endorsed Nigeria’s offer to host the headquarters of the Combined Maritime Task Force in the Gulf of Guinea.

The session concluded with the election of the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, as the new Chairperson of the Authority for a one-year term.

Present at the session were Heads of State and Government or their duly mandated representatives.

The next Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government will be scheduled at a later date in line with the established calendar of meetings.