ECOWAS Readmits Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger as Non-members

The Economic Community of West African States has approved the admission of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as non-ECOWAS members of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.

The decision was taken by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its 68th Ordinary Session held on December 14, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria.

A statement issued by GIABA said the approval was granted on the condition that the three Sahelian countries demonstrate strong political commitment to fully implement obligations required of GIABA members, particularly in addressing deficiencies in their Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing frameworks.

The Authority noted that the countries must also cooperate fully with all compliance requirements stipulated under the GIABA Statute.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally completed their withdrawal from ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, after forming a new regional bloc known as the Alliance of Sahel States.

Before the approval, the GIABA Ministerial Committee had recommended their admission as non-ECOWAS members during its second Extraordinary Session held on July 19, 2025, in Accra.

GIABA explained that its Establishment Statute permits the admission of non-ECOWAS member states once eligibility criteria are met.

With the latest development, GIABA now has five non-ECOWAS member states, including Sao Tome and Principe and the Union of Comoros.