The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, is moving, along with the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS), from confrontation to dialogue and cooperation in the face of economic security and political realities. On June 23, a three-day seminar of experts from the AES took place in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, aimed at developing a strategic framework document that will form the basis for future consultations with ECOWAS. While no date has been set for the AES-ECOWAS talks, this seminar is part of a regional political momentum that could herald such a meeting in the near future.
In September of 2025, the AES formally withdrew from ECOWAS in reaction to the trade embargo and sanctions the latter imposed on the AES on the claim that they had overthrown so-called democratically elected governments. This was in line with the West’s so-called “rules-based order.” Only one ECOWAS member, Togo, did not impose the group’s restrictions. The policy soon backfired as the economic blockage saw trade flows from the ports of ECOWAS states serving as ports of entry for the Landlocked AES, seriously affecting the economies of Benin and Ghana, while crucial cross-border trade with Nigeria dried up, seriously affecting Nigerian traders dependent on this commerce. In addition, the escalation of terrorism along common borders underscored the need for regional cooperation and coordination with the AES.
