- Dakar talks seek to rebuild regional ties after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) have agreed to establish joint working groups to negotiate a cooperation framework, signalling renewed diplomatic efforts to bridge divisions following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the regional bloc.
The agreement was reached in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday at the inaugural ministerial meeting of the ECOWAS-AES Dialogue on Cooperation, where both sides committed to structured technical discussions aimed at defining the basis for future relations between the two regional organisations.
The initiative represents a significant step towards reopening channels of engagement amid persistent disagreements over military rule, political transitions, economic sanctions and regional security arrangements.
Under the agreement, the joint working groups will identify areas of common interest and develop proposals for a cooperation framework that is balanced, practical and responsive to the interests of the populations of both blocs.
A joint communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated that the outcome of the technical discussions would be submitted to the ministers for consideration at their next session.
Although the meeting did not produce a comprehensive agreement or specify a deadline for concluding negotiations, the establishment of the working groups provides a formal platform for sustained dialogue after months of strained relations.
The meeting was co-chaired by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, who is President of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Chairman of the AES Ministerial Steering Committee.
The discussions followed consultations held in Bamako, Mali, on May 22, 2025, which the two sides identified as an important foundation for subsequent engagements.
According to the communiqué, both delegations welcomed the atmosphere of “fraternity, mutual respect and openness” during the discussions and reaffirmed the historical, sociocultural and economic ties connecting the peoples of West Africa.
They also stressed that future relations should be guided by good-neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, human dignity and the welfare of the region’s populations.
The date of the next ministerial meeting will be determined through diplomatic consultations.
WITHDRAWAL DEEPENS REGIONAL DIVISIONS
The diplomatic initiative comes against the backdrop of one of the most consequential setbacks to West African regional integration in recent years.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the organisation of imposing what they described as inhumane sanctions and failing to provide adequate support in addressing insecurity across the Sahel.
The three countries, all governed by military-led administrations following coups, subsequently completed their withdrawal, which took effect on January 29, 2025, after the stipulated one-year notice period.
Before their departure, tensions had escalated over ECOWAS sanctions and demands for the restoration of constitutional order, with the military authorities in the three countries increasingly rejecting the bloc’s approach to political transitions.
The countries strengthened their separate regional arrangement through the Alliance of Sahel States, established in 2023, which evolved into the Confederation of Sahel States in July 2024.
The confederation has pursued deeper cooperation among its members, particularly in defence, security and economic affairs, while charting a political and diplomatic course distinct from that of ECOWAS.
Their withdrawal has raised concerns about the future of regional collaboration on counterterrorism, cross-border crime, trade, free movement and economic integration.
The three countries maintain extensive commercial, cultural and social connections with other ECOWAS member states. Their separation therefore presents practical challenges for governments, businesses and millions of citizens whose livelihoods depend on cross-border movement and trade.
SECURITY, TRADE AND FREE MOVEMENT IN FOCUS
The proposed cooperation framework could provide an avenue for addressing shared challenges despite continuing differences over governance, sovereignty and regional authority.
However, the joint communiqué did not specify the issues to be prioritised by the working groups or outline proposed arrangements for trade, border administration, security cooperation and the movement of people and goods between the two blocs.
It also made no commitment to reverse the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger or restore their membership of ECOWAS.
For now, the immediate objective is to establish a mutually acceptable framework for engagement that enables both sides to pursue common interests without requiring them to abandon their respective political positions.
The outcome of the negotiations could have significant implications for regional stability, economic cooperation and the effectiveness of collective responses to insecurity across West Africa.
The parties expressed appreciation to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the government and people of Senegal for hosting the meeting and supporting efforts to advance West African integration.
The establishment of the joint working groups marks a new phase in ECOWAS-AES relations, although the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on whether the two sides can translate diplomatic commitments into practical arrangements that protect the interests of their populations.
