Editing ECOWAS (section)

=== States that have withdrawn or been suspended ===
Arabic-speaking [[Mauritania]] was one of the founding members of ECOWAS in 1975 and decided to withdraw in December 2000.<ref name="HDM" /> Mauritania signed a new associate-membership agreement in August 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okanla |first=Karim |date=15 February 2019 |title=Like a magnet |url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/ecowas-has-made-considerable-progress-still-has-ample-room-improvement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925021753/https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/ecowas-has-made-considerable-progress-still-has-ample-room-improvement |archive-date=25 September 2020 |access-date=10 April 2019 |website=D+C, Development and Cooperation}}</ref>

[[Mali]] was suspended from ECOWAS on 30 May 2021, following its [[2021 Malian coup d'état|second military coup]] within nine months.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 May 2021 |title=ECOWAS suspends Mali over second coup in nine months |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/ecowas-suspends-mali-over-second-coup-in-nine-months |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606081849/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/31/ecowas-suspends-mali-over-second-coup-in-nine-months |archive-date=6 June 2021 |access-date=12 September 2021 |work=Al Jazeera}}</ref> [[Guinea]] was also suspended on 8 September 2021, shortly after a [[2021 Guinean coup d'état|military coup]] took place in the country.<ref name="leaders_due_in_guinea_2021_09_09_reuters">{{Cite news |last=Samb |first=Saliou |last2=Eboh |first2=Camillus |last3=Inveen |first3=Cooper |date=9 September 2021 |editor-last=Heritage |editor-first=Timothy |title=West African leaders due in Guinea as post-coup calm pervades Conakry |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-leaders-due-guinea-post-coup-calm-pervades-conakry-2021-09-09/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205073355/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-leaders-due-guinea-post-coup-calm-pervades-conakry-2021-09-09/ |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=Reuters |editor2-first=Steve |editor2-last=Orlofsky |editor3-first=Richard |editor3-last=Pullin}}</ref><ref name="leaders_suspend_guinea_2021_09_08_bbc">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58487925 "West African leaders suspend Guinea from Ecowas following coup"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908125315/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58487925 |date=8 September 2021 }}, 9 September 2021, [[BBC News]], retrieved 9 September 2021</ref> Sanctions were placed on both countries on 16 September.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Christian |first=Akorlie |last2=Samb |first2=Saliou |last3=Felix |first3=Bate |last4=Inveen |first4=Cooper |last5=Prentice |first5=Alessandra |date=17 September 2021 |editor-last=Cawthorne |editor-first=Andrew |title=West African bloc resorts to sanctions over Guinea and Mali coups |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-leaders-meet-decide-guinea-after-coup-2021-09-16/ |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917070419/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-leaders-meet-decide-guinea-after-coup-2021-09-16/ |archive-date=17 September 2021 |access-date=17 September 2021 |work=Reuters |editor2-first=Marguerita |editor2-last=Choy |editor3-first=Grant |editor3-last=McCool}}</ref> On 10 January 2022, Mali announced its decision to close its borders and recalled several ambassadors with ECOWAS in response to sanctions imposed for deferring elections for four years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AHMED |first=BABA |date=10 January 2022 |title=Mali's junta deplores new sanctions imposed by regional bloc |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Mali-s-junta-deplores-new-sanctions-imposed-by-16763433.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110161440/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Mali-s-junta-deplores-new-sanctions-imposed-by-16763433.php |archive-date=10 January 2022 |access-date=10 January 2022 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref> On 28 January 2022, [[Burkina Faso]] was suspended from ECOWAS following a [[January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état|military coup]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2022 |title=West African regional bloc suspends Burkina Faso's membership over coup |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220128-west-african-regional-bloc-suspends-burkina-faso-s-membership-over-coup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128153217/http://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220128-west-african-regional-bloc-suspends-burkina-faso-s-membership-over-coup |archive-date=28 January 2022 |access-date=28 January 2022 |work=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> [[Niger]] was suspended from ECOWAS after the [[2023 Nigerien coup d'état|2023 coup d'état]] and threatened with military intervention if President [[Mohamed Bazoum]] is not restored to office,<ref name="The Point">{{Cite news |date=1 August 2023 |title=West Africa: ECOWAS Warns It Could Use Force in Niger |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202308010371.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215094540/https://allafrica.com/stories/202308010371.html |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=The Point |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=West African ECOWAS bloc suspends ties with Niger and authorizes use of force if president not reinstated within a week |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/west-african-ecowas-bloc-suspends-ties-niger-authorizes-101848076 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730130606/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/west-african-ecowas-bloc-suspends-ties-niger-authorizes-101848076 |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=[[Associated Press]] |location=[[Niamey]] |agency=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> causing the [[2023 Nigerien crisis|Nigerien crisis.]] Additionally, ECOWAS closed all land and air borders between other member states and Niger and instituted a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger. The suspension removed all commercial and financial transactions and froze Niger's assets in ECOWAS central banks.<ref name="The Point" /> On 16 September 2023, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formed a military alliance, the [[Alliance of Sahel States]] (AES), following ECOWAS's threat to intervene to restore civilian rule in Niger.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 September 2023 |title=Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-niger-burkina-faso-sign-sahel-security-pact-2023-09-16/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230917031315/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-niger-burkina-faso-sign-sahel-security-pact-2023-09-16/ |archive-date=17 September 2023 |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref> On 21 November 2023, Niger's military government asked the ECOWAS regional court to order the lifting of sanctions imposed on the country.<ref name=":7" /> Until the coup, aid from countries like the United States and international organizations like ECOWAS accounted for almost half of Niger's annual budget. Following Niger's ECOWAS suspension, Niger's neighbours closed their borders to the country and 70 percent of its electricity, coming from Nigeria, was cut off.<ref name=":7" /> While these sanctions and consequences that have followed have affected the individuals and economy of Niger, the government is not backing down. As a result of the suspension, children have not been able to attend school due to lack of supplies, and businesses are shutting down due to rising costs. Further, the ECOWAS lawyer pointed out that the Nigerien government is not recognized by ECOWAS and therefore does not have the power to ask the regional court for a removal of these sanctions.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Niger government asks court to force ECOWAS to lift coup sanctions |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/niger-asks-west-africas-court-to-compel-neighbors-to-lift-coup-sanctions-citing-hardship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128184814/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/niger-asks-west-africas-court-to-compel-neighbors-to-lift-coup-sanctions-citing-hardship |archive-date=28 November 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

On 28 January 2024, [[Niger]], [[Mali]], and [[Burkina Faso]] announced via a joint statement that they were withdrawing from ECOWAS "without delay".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger quit ECOWAS – DW – 01/28/2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/mali-burkina-faso-and-niger-quit-ecowas/a-68106116 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128163609/https://www.dw.com/en/mali-burkina-faso-and-niger-quit-ecowas/a-68106116 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> The three nations, all of which are currently ruled by military juntas, accused ECOWAS of implementing "inhumane" sanctions in order to reverse the coups in each nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdraw from West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS as tensions deepen |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/mali-niger-burkina-faso-withdraw-west-africas-regional-106743815 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128165721/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/mali-niger-burkina-faso-withdraw-west-africas-regional-106743815 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> Under the ECOWAS protocol, immediate withdrawal is not possible, and the three member states could remain in the bloc for up to a year. ECOWAS said in a statement that {{qi|Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse.}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso announce withdrawal from ECOWAS |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/niger-mali-burkina-faso-announce-withdrawal-from-ecowas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128200440/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/niger-mali-burkina-faso-announce-withdrawal-from-ecowas |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 February 2024, ECOWAS announced that it was lifting some sanctions against Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. For Niger this included the border closures, the freezing of central bank and state assets, the suspension of commercial transactions, and the no-fly-zone for commercial flights to and from Niger. However, the political sanctions and targeted sanctions would remain in force. The communiqué said this was done for humanitarian reasons, but it was seen as a gesture of appeasement to dissuade the three junta-led states from withdrawing from the bloc. ECOWAS also lifted sanctions on Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Onuah |first=Felix |date=24 February 2024 |title=West African bloc lifts sanctions on junta-led Niger |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-ecowas-bloc-mulls-new-strategy-towards-junta-states-2024-02-24/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240224200948/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-ecowas-bloc-mulls-new-strategy-towards-junta-states-2024-02-24/ |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yekeen |first=Akinwale |date=24 February 2024 |title=ECOWAS lifts sanctions against Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso |url=https://www.thecable.ng/ecowas-lifts-sanctions-against-niger-mali-burkina-faso |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225004240/https://www.thecable.ng/ecowas-lifts-sanctions-against-niger-mali-burkina-faso |archive-date=25 February 2024 |access-date=25 February 2024 |work=TheCable}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 February 2024 |title=West African bloc ECOWAS lifts sanctions against Guinea, Mali |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240225-%F0%9F%94%B4-west-african-bloc-ecowas-lifts-its-economic-sanctions-against-guinea-statement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226032405/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240225-%F0%9F%94%B4-west-african-bloc-ecowas-lifts-its-economic-sanctions-against-guinea-statement |archive-date=26 February 2024 |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=France 24}}</ref>

In December 2024, ECOWAS heads of state of the member countries met finalize the decision regarding the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, united under the AES.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECOWAS wants to formalize the withdrawal of the AES countries |url=https://www.africaintelligence.fr/afrique-ouest/2024/11/27/la-cedeao-en-passe-d-acter-le-depart-des-pays-de-l-aes,110344446-eve |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=africaintelligence.fr |language=fr}}</ref> President of Senegal, Basirou Diomaye Faye, stated on 8 December 2024 that he was continuing to discuss with the three countries remaining in ECOWAS, while maintaining the Alliance of Sahel States, which he recognized as a security response in the Sahel region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senegal 'making progress' convincing military regimes in Sahel to remain with Ecowas |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20241209-senegal-making-progress-convincing-military-regimes-in-sahel-to-remain-with-ecowas |access-date=11 December 2024 |website=www.rfi.fr |language=en}}</ref> On 12 December 2024, ECOWAS President Bola Tinubu confirmed the political will of ECOWAS leaders to reintegrate the three countries from the Alliance of Sahel States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECOWAS is Open to Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Tinubu Assures German President |url=https://newscentral.africa/ecowas-is-open-to-burkina-faso-niger-mali-tinubu-assures-german-president/ |access-date=13 December 2024 |website=www.newscentral.africa |language=en}}</ref> On 15 December 2024, the Conference of Heads of State of ECOWAS adopted an exit transition period for Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, which begins on 29 January 2025 and ends on 29 July 2025. During this transition period, ECOWAS has indicated that any exit would be reversible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Africa regional bloc approves exit timeline for 3 coup-hit member states |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ecowas-ap-west-africa-abuja-nigeria-b2664698.html |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=www.independent.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The AES rejected the proposal.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Celebrations were held in the three countries to mark the formal exit on 29 January.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2025 |title=Thousands rally in Burkina, Mali and Niger to cheer ECOWAS exit |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250128-thousands-rally-in-burkina-mali-and-niger-to-cheer-ecowas-exit |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=France24}}</ref> ECOWAS noted the withdrawal, while calling for the continuance of existing arrangements for the free movement of people and goods, including requesting its own members still accept documents from the departing countries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2025 |title=Military governments lead West African trio out of ECOWAS regional bloc |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/29/military-governments-lead-west-african-trio-out-of-ecowas-regional-bloc |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2025 |title=Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso formally leave ECOWAS |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/01/29/niger-mali-and-burkina-faso-formally-leave-ecowas_6737542_4.html |access-date=29 January 2025 |work=Le Monde}}</ref>

The Foreign Ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States met on 26 January 2025, in Ouagadougou {{qi|in anticipation of future talks with ECOWAS}}, The Ministers reached a consensus on the overall approach to future negotiations with ECOWAS, in the best interest of the Sahelian populations. From 29 January 2025, begins the beginning of a six-month "transition period" after the official separation with the three Sahelian countries. The three Sahelian countries rejected any possibility of reversing their decision.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 January 2025 |title=CFA franc, passports, joint force: What are the Sahel States' plans after split with ECOWAS? |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/375211/cfa-franc-passports-joint-force-what-are-the-sahel-states-plans-after-split-with-ecowas/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |work=The africa report}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:95%; white-space:nowrap"
|+ ECOWAS member states
! scope="col" style="width:120px;" | Country
! scope="col" style="width:100px;" | Area<ref name="UNarea">{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=Demographic Yearbook – Population by sex, annual rate of population increase, surface area and density |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2012/Table03.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110134404/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2012/Table03.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=27 January 2017 |publisher=United Nations Statistics Division |pages=1–2}}</ref><br />{{small|(km<sup>2</sup>)}}
! scope="col" style="width:100px;" | Population<ref name="WB2015pop">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2016 |title=Population 2015 |url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/POP.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121145834/http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/POP.pdf |archive-date=21 January 2017 |access-date=27 January 2017 |publisher=[[World Bank]]}}</ref><br />{{small|(thousands)}}
! scope="col" style="width:100px;" | {{nowrap|GDP (nominal)<ref name="WB2015gdp">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2016 |title=Gross domestic product 2015 |url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224045445/http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2016 |access-date=27 January 2017 |publisher=[[World Bank]]}}</ref><br />{{small|(millions USD)}}}}
! scope="col" style="width:100px;" | {{nowrap|GDP (PPP)<ref name="WB2015ppp">{{Cite web |date=16 December 2016 |title=Gross domestic product 2015, PPP |url=http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP_PPP.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222233618/http://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/GDP_PPP.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2016 |access-date=27 January 2017 |publisher=[[World Bank]]}}</ref><br />{{small|(millions intl.$)}}}}
! scope="col" style="width:80px;" | Currency
! scope="col" style="width:80px;" | Official<br />language
! scope="col" style="width:80px;" | Status
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Benin}}
| align=right | {{nts|114763}}
| align=right | {{nts|10880}}
| align=right | {{nts|8291}}
| align=right | {{nts|22377}}
| align=left | [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| align=left | [[French language|French]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Cape Verde}}
| align=right | {{nts|4033}}
| align=right | {{nts|521}}
| align=right | {{nts|1603}}
| align=right | {{nts|3413}}
| align=left | [[Cape Verdean escudo|escudo]]
| align=left | [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|The Gambia}}
| align=right | {{nts|11295}}
| align=right | {{nts|1991}}
| align=right | {{nts|939}}
| align=right | {{nts|3344}}
| align=left | [[Gambian dalasi|dalasi]]
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Ghana}}
| align=right | {{nts|238533}}
| align=right | {{nts|27410}}
| align=right | {{nts|37543}}
| align=right | {{nts|115409}}
| align=left | [[Ghanaian cedi|cedi]]
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Guinea}}
| align=right | {{nts|245857}}
| align=right | {{nts|12609}}
| align=right | {{nts|6699}}
| align=right | {{nts|15244}}
| align=left | [[Guinean franc|franc]]
| align=left | [[French language|French]]
| align=left |Suspended
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
| align=right | {{nts|36125}}
| align=right | {{nts|1844}}
| align=right | {{nts|1057}}
| align=right | {{nts|2685}}
| align=left | [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| align=left | [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
| align=right | {{nts|322463}}
| align=right | {{nts|22702}}
| align=right | {{nts|31759}}
| align=right | {{nts|79766}}
| align=left | [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| align=left | [[French language|French]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Liberia}}
| align=right | {{nts|111369}}
| align=right | {{nts|4503}}
| align=right | {{nts|2053}}
| align=right | {{nts|3762}}
| align=left | [[Liberian dollar|dollar]]
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Nigeria}}
| align=right | {{nts|923768}}
| align=right | {{nts|211400}}
| align=right | {{nts|481066}}
| align=right | {{nts|1093921}}
| align=left | [[Nigerian naira|naira]]
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Senegal}}
| align=right | {{nts|196712}}
| align=right | {{nts|15129}}
| align=right | {{nts|13610}}
| align=right | {{nts|36625}}
| align=left | [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| align=left | [[French language|French]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Sierra Leone}}
| align=right | {{nts|72300}}
| align=right | {{nts|6453}}
| align=right | {{nts|4215}}
| align=right | {{nts|10127}}
| align=left | [[Sierra Leonean leone|leone]]
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|-
! scope=row | {{flag|Togo}}
| align=right | {{nts|56785}}
| align=right | {{nts|7305}}
| align=right | {{nts|4088}}
| align=right | {{nts|10667}}
| align=left | [[West African CFA franc|CFA franc]]
| align=left | [[French language|French]]
| align=left | {{sortdash}}
|- class="sortbottom"
! scope=row | '''Total'''
| align=right | '''{{nts|2334003}}'''
| align=right | '''{{nts|322747}}'''
| align=right | '''{{nts|592923}}'''
| align=right | '''{{nts|1397340}}'''
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{sortdash}}
|}
Statistics for population, nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] and [[purchasing power parity]] GDP listed below are taken from [[World Bank]] estimates for 2015, published in December 2016.<ref name="WB2015pop" /><ref name="WB2015gdp" /><ref name="WB2015ppp" /> Area data is taken from a 2012 report compiled by the [[United Nations Statistics Division]].<ref name="UNarea" />