The West African country of Togo is considering joining the Alliance of Sahel States, or Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), joining the nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The move would signal Togo’s breaking ranks with the policy of the colonial-era Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which demands that the military-led governments of the AES return to civilian rule.
On his social media in March, Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey wrote: “Togo is considering joining the AES, a strategic decision that could strengthen regional cooperation and offer access to the sea to member countries.” Dussey is a firm Pan Africanist, who added that joining the AES would further the much-needed unity of Africa and that 70% of Togo’s population would support joining AES.
Togo has had a long engagement with the AES, and there have been visits of high-level delegations between Togo and the three Sahel states, especially with Burkina Faso, which shares a border with Togo.
