ECOWAS, Despite Regional Exit, Grants GIABA Membership to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has granted Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger membership in the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), despite the three nations no longer being part of the regional bloc.

The decision was made at the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority on December 14, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria, with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio presiding as current chair.

The three countries’ membership comes with conditions requiring them to demonstrate strong political commitment to implementing obligations expected of GIABA members. This includes addressing weaknesses in their Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing frameworks, and complying fully with requirements under the GIABA Statute.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger officially withdrew from ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, following the creation of their new confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States. Prior to the Authority’s approval, the GIABA Ministerial Committee had endorsed admitting the three Sahelian nations as non-ECOWAS members during an extraordinary session held July 19, 2025, in Accra.

According to GIABA, the organization’s statute permits non-ECOWAS states to join if they satisfy eligibility requirements. With these new additions, GIABA now includes five non-ECOWAS member states, along with Sao Tome and Principe and the Union of Comoros