Just days after assuming the chairmanship of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye arrived in Bamako on Tuesday for a working visit as his first real test to hold the bloc together.
The trip, made at the invitation of Malian interim president General Assimi Goïta, comes as the regional bloc seeks to redefine its relationship with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
President Faye departed Dakar early Tuesday morning for the bilateral visit, marking his first regional trip since taking over the rotating ECOWAS presidency on July 19 in Freetown.
This is not Faye’s first visit to Mali since taking office. He previously traveled to Bamako on May 30, 2024, less than two months after his inauguration, meeting with General Goïta over bilateral ties, regional security, and the future of relations between ECOWAS and military-led transitions in the Sahel.
The Senegalese leader’s return to Mali carries significant weight as ECOWAS navigates its stance toward the AES confederation, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all led by military leaders.
According to the Senegalese presidency, the visit builds on historical ties of fraternity and neighbourly cooperation between the two nations. It provides an opportunity for both leaders to address bilateral issues and wider regional matters, including peace, security, and West African integration.
At the Freetown summit, Faye advocated for a more financially independent ECOWAS, greater pooling of security resources, and the operationalisation of a regional anti-terrorism force.
Senegal’s leadership of the bloc coincides with Dakar taking charge of the ECOWAS Commission following the appointment of General Birame Diop to succeed Omar Alieu Touray.
Under this new leadership structure, Senegal aims to play a central role in restarting regional dialogue and shaping future engagement between ECOWAS and the Sahel alliance.
AC/lb/as/APA