Meeting on December 14, 2025 in Abuja, during The 68 3rd ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and ECOWAS government, West African leaders decided on the Request for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to join the Group Intergovernmental action against money laundering in Africa of the West (GIABA)

At the end of the discussions, the Conference granted the three countries the status of non-ECOWAS members of GIABA. This decision is based, mainly, on their asserted political commitment to put fully implement all the obligations required of members of the regional institution.

Concretely, this commitment involves correction of the shortcomings identified in the national control mechanisms against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing (LBC/FT/CPF). It also provides for a full cooperation with GIABA, as well as strict compliance with all obligations under the statute of the organization.

For the Conference, this integration under specific status aims to maintain regional cooperation in the field of financial security. It also makes it possible to maintain a framework for dialogue technical and operational with the countries concerned, despite developments recent institutional structures in the region.

In the same spirit, the heads of State and The government looked into the operations of the Investment Bank and ECOWAS Development Agency (BIDC) with the countries of the Alliance of States of the Sahel (AES). The Conference approved the resolution of the Council of Governors of the BIDC authorizing the continuation of Burkina Faso's participation Faso, Mali and Niger to the Bank as non-regional members.

It also validated the maintenance, at within the BIDC, staff from AES countries. This measure aims to guarantee the operational continuity of the institution and to preserve the technical skills accumulated over the years.

In addition, the Conference looked at on the question of the imposition of the Community solidarity tax. This concerns goods originating in Member States that are not members of all UEMOA-ECOWAS, exported to other ECOWAS member states belonging to the UEMOA.

On this point, the leaders charged the President of the ECOWAS Commission to work closely with the UEMOA Commission. The objective is to find, quickly, a solution concerted in order to remove ambiguities and avoid any obstacles to exchanges intra-regional trade.

Through these decisions, ECOWAS reaffirms its commitment to maintaining inclusive cooperation mechanisms. Elle intends, above all, to preserve financial stability, regional security and continuity of common institutions, in a sub-regional context in profound recomposition.