Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have resumed formal ministerial talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), more than 18 months after withdrawing from the regional bloc, in a move aimed at establishing a new framework for cooperation.
The three junta-led countries withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 after forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a separate regional grouping.
Although discussions between ECOWAS and the AES had been ongoing since January 2025, Saturday’s meeting marked their first official ministerial-level engagement since the withdrawal.
In a joint statement issued on Saturday evening, both sides welcomed what they described as the spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness during the talks.
They also emphasised the importance of maintaining good-neighbourly relations, particularly through respect for national sovereignty.
The two sides agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to develop a framework cooperation agreement, signalling efforts to maintain engagement despite their political differences.
The AES delegation was led by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, while Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, led the ECOWAS delegation.
The diplomatic engagement comes amid shifting political and security alliances across West Africa. The military-led governments in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have distanced themselves from France, their former colonial power, and criticised regional countries they consider too closely aligned with Paris.
The three Sahel states have also strengthened their political ties with Russia, promoting what they describe as an anti-imperialist approach centred on national sovereignty.
Their strained relations with several West African coastal countries, including Côte d’Ivoire and Benin, have further complicated regional cooperation.
The renewed talks could provide an avenue for ECOWAS and the AES to address their differences and explore practical areas of cooperation while respecting the sovereignty of the countries involved.
