The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have agreed to negotiate a formal cooperation framework nearly 21 months after the three countries announced their withdrawal from the regional bloc. According to the Bureau of African Affairs,…...
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have agreed to negotiate a formal cooperation framework nearly 21 months after the three countries announced their withdrawal from the regional bloc.
According to the Bureau of African Affairs, the agreement followed a ministerial meeting held in Dakar, Senegal, on October 17, 2026, where both parties agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to conduct technical discussions towards a cooperation framework.
A joint communiqué issued after the meeting stated that the working groups would examine areas of common interest, with their findings to be submitted to ministers for consideration at a subsequent meeting. The date and venue of the next session will be determined through diplomatic channels.
The ECOWAS delegation was led by Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang, who chairs the bloc’s Council of Ministers, while Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, headed the AES delegation and chaired its ministerial steering committee.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024 following tensions over military coups, sanctions and disagreements concerning the transition to civilian rule. Their departure formally took effect on January 29, 2025.
Trade and regional ties remain at stake
The Dakar meeting comes as both sides seek to define their relationship following the split while preserving longstanding social, cultural and economic connections across West Africa.
In the joint communiqué, the parties said future relations should be guided by good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, dignity and the welfare of the region’s populations.
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They also expressed a commitment to developing a balanced and realistic cooperation framework that protects the interests of their respective populations.
The proposed agreement could create a basis for collaboration on issues affecting cross-border trade, transportation and regional infrastructure. The three landlocked AES countries depend on routes through neighbouring states to access seaports and international markets, while coastal economies maintain commercial ties with the Sahel.
However, the communiqué did not announce a new trade agreement or changes to existing cross-border arrangements. Instead, it established a process for technical discussions, with ministers expected to consider recommendations from the joint working groups.
The meeting also followed consultations held in Bamako, Mali, on May 22, 2025, reflecting continued efforts by both sides to establish a structured relationship after the three countries’ departure from ECOWAS.
The parties expressed appreciation to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his government for hosting the meeting and supporting regional integration.
The next phase of the process will depend on the recommendations of the joint working groups and whether ECOWAS and the AES can translate their commitment into a formal cooperation agreement.