Nearly 21 months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and the regional bloc initiated formal negotiations in Dakar on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
The high-level meeting marks an effort to establish a new framework for structured cooperation while preserving vital economic, social, and security links without reversing the institutional separation of the two organizations.
At the conclusion of the Dakar discussions, both delegations agreed to form joint thematic working groups to refine a draft framework agreement. The proposed draft spans 18 priority sector areas categorized into five main clusters, including trade, security coordination, and the cross-border movement of citizens and commercial goods. Technical recommendations generated by these working groups will be submitted to respective ministerial representatives ahead of a future summit to be scheduled through diplomatic channels.
The launch of formal dialogue follows series of diplomatic engagements, including preliminary consultations in Bamako in May 2025 and mediation by ECOWAS representative Lansana Kouyaté throughout 2026. Sahelian leadership maintains that the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS remains irreversible. However, the Dakar talks signal a pragmatic shift by both blocs to organize structured coexistence, ensuring that interconnected regional trade, border management, and security protocols persist despite political realignments.
AC/lb/abj/APA