Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic will cease to be members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2025.

Alieu Touray, president of ECOWAS commission, made the announcement on Sunday during the 66th ordinary session of heads of states and governments in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

“After deliberations, their excellencies, the authority members of the authority of ECOWAS, heads of state and government, commend the exemplary diplomatic engagement of His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, and His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé President of the Togolese Republic, and the diplomatic efforts of the chairman of authority, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other individual member states towards these three countries,” he said.

“The authority takes note of the notification by Bukina Faso, Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger of their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. The authority acknowledges that in accordance with the provisions of Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS treaty, the three countries will officially cease to be members of ECOWAS from 29 January, 2025.

“The authority decides to set the period from 29 January, 2025 to 29 July 2025 as a transitional period and to keep ECOWAS doors open to the three countries during the transition period.

”In this regard, the authority extends the mandate of President faure Gnassingbé of Togo, and President Faye of Senegal to continue their mediation rule up to the end of the transition period to bring the three member countries back to ECOWAS.”

Touray said withdrawal formalities would be launched after the January 29, 2025 deadline.

He said a contingency plan covering various areas would be drawn up.

“The authority directs the council of ministers to convene an extraordinary session during the second quarter of 2025 to consider and adopt both separation modalities and the contingency plan covering political and economic relations between ECOWAS and the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Mali and Burkina Faso,” he said.

South Korea’s opposition leader urged a top court on Sunday to swiftly formalise the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and ease the “suffering of the people” after his short-lived martial law decree.

Lawmakers voted on Saturday to remove Yoon from office over his “insurrectionary” suspension of civilian rule, which plunged South Korea into some of its worst political turmoil in years.

Yoon has been suspended while South Korea’s Constitutional Court deliberates, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serving as interim leader.

The court has 180 days to rule on Yoon’s future.

But opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Sunday urged the judges to “swiftly” remove Yoon from office.

“This is the only way to minimise national turmoil and alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said.

“To hold those responsible for this absurd situation accountable and to prevent its recurrence, it is essential to uncover the truth and demand accountability.”

An investigation into Yoon’s inner circle over last week’s martial law declaration has also rumbled on.

On Sunday, prosecutors said they were seeking an arrest warrant for the head of the Army Special Warfare Command Kwak Jong-keun, Yonhap news agency said.

Kwak is accused of sending special forces troops to the country’s parliament during the failed martial law bid, sparking a dramatic confrontation between soldiers and parliamentary staff.

And on Saturday, police arrested Yeo In-hyung, head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, on charges including insurrection.

‘Resiliency of democracy’ –
Meanwhile, the South Korean government has sought to project an air of business as usual.

Acting President Han held a call on Sunday with US President Joe Biden, who underscored the strength of bilateral ties.

The United States is a key treaty ally of Seoul’s, stationing around 28,000 troops in South Korea.

The White House said in a readout that Biden had expressed “confidence that the Alliance will remain the linchpin for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region during Acting President Han’s tenure.

“President Biden expressed his appreciation for the resiliency of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea,” the White House said.

Han has also ordered the military to “enhance vigilance” against North Korea, with which the South remains technically at war.

North Korea is yet to publicly comment on Yoon’s impeachment.

Vast protests both for and against Yoon have rocked the South Korean capital since the December 3 martial law decree.

Demonstrators in both camps have vowed to keep up the pressure campaign as the Constitutional Court mulls Yoon’s fate.

“I will certainly protest at the court to demand it reject the impeachment,” Cho Hee-sun, a Yoon supporter, told AFP at a rally on Saturday before the parliamentary vote.

Seoul police estimated that at least 200,000 people had gathered outside parliament in support of removing the president.

South Korea’s parliament has impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial martial law decree.

On Saturday, the national assembly passed the motion after a 204 to 85 vote.

This is the second national assembly impeachment vote on Yeol. Last Saturday, Yeol survived an impeachment vote after most ruling party lawmakers boycotted the floor vote.

Yeol’s presidential powers and duties will be suspended after copies of the impeachment are delivered to him and to the constitutional court.

The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to dismiss Yeol as president or restore his powers.

If ousted, a national election must be held within 60 days to replace him.

On December 3, the president declared martial law during a televised address, accusing the opposition Democratic Party of engaging in “anti-state activities” and collaborating with North Korean factions to undermine the government.

When martial law is declared, there is a suspension of civil rights and the imposition of military law. This typically happens during emergencies.

The declaration marked the first instance of martial law in South Korea in over 40 years. It was met with backlash from lawmakers and the public.

The situation escalated quickly, with military forces surrounding the national assembly.

However, within hours, opposition lawmakers convened and unanimously voted to revoke the decree, effectively nullifying Yeol’s order.