ECOWAS, AES: Working Groups Formed for Cooperation Deal Negotiation

• ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) have agreed to form joint working groups to negotiate a cooperation deal.
• The agreement was reached at the first ministerial meeting of the ECOWAS-AES Dialogue on Cooperation in Dakar, Senegal.
• The negotiations aim to protect cross-border trade, security collaboration, and regional ties following the Burkina Faso Mali Niger ECOWAS withdrawal.
• Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, after disputes over military rule and sanctions.
• The dialogue seeks to establish a structured channel for engagement, guided by principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect.

The current ECOWAS AES cooperation deal negotiation arises directly from the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to exit the Economic Community of West African States.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the newly formed Confederation of Sahel States (AES) have formally agreed to establish joint working groups aimed at negotiating a comprehensive cooperation deal. This significant development, emerging from the inaugural ministerial meeting of the ECOWAS-AES Dialogue on Cooperation held recently in Dakar, Senegal, seeks to mend strained regional ties following the Burkina Faso Mali Niger ECOWAS withdrawal. The primary objective of these negotiations is to safeguard crucial cross-border trade, foster security collaboration, and preserve other vital regional connections that have been jeopardized by the departure of the three Sahelian nations.

During the Dakar ECOWAS AES dialogue, both sides committed to engaging in technical discussions to forge a framework that protects their respective interests. This initiative marks an effort to create a structured channel for ongoing engagement between ECOWAS and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, whose exit from the regional bloc has generated considerable apprehension. Concerns specifically revolve around the integrity of established trade routes, the seamless movement of people and goods, and the efficacy of joint efforts to combat insecurity across the broader West African region.

Co-chairing the pivotal meeting were Cheikh Niang, Senegal's Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, who also serves as President of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Burkina Faso's Foreign Affairs Minister and chairman of the AES Ministerial Steering Committee. This dialogue follows earlier consultations that took place in Bamako, Mali, on May 22, 2025, underscoring a sustained effort to manage the repercussions of the three countries' withdrawal from ECOWAS.

The current ECOWAS AES cooperation deal negotiation arises directly from the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to exit the Economic Community of West African States. These three nations announced their intention to leave the bloc in January 2024, with their withdrawal becoming effective on January 29, 2025. This move followed a period of prolonged disputes with ECOWAS, primarily centered on issues of military rule, the imposition of sanctions, and demands for a swift return to constitutional governance within their respective countries.

Subsequent to their withdrawal announcement, the three Sahelian states consolidated their separate regional arrangement. What initially began as the Alliance of Sahel States was formally transformed into the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) in July 2024. This consolidation underscored their commitment to a new regional alignment, further complicating the landscape of West African integration.

This Burkina Faso Mali Niger ECOWAS withdrawal has significantly complicated the outlook for regional integration. These countries share deep-rooted commercial and social links with coastal West African states and are heavily reliant on cross-border transport corridors for their trade activities. The disruption of these longstanding connections necessitates a new framework for interaction, which the current ECOWAS AES cooperation deal negotiation aims to provide.

The implications of the withdrawal extend beyond economic ties, posing significant challenges for West Africa trade security talks. The Sahel region continues to grapple with persistent militant violence, and the unchecked movement of armed groups across porous borders remains a critical regional concern, demanding coordinated responses among neighboring countries. The absence of a clear framework for cooperation between ECOWAS and the AES member states could exacerbate these security vulnerabilities, making the current negotiations particularly vital for regional stability.

While the joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Dakar meeting highlighted the agreement to form working groups, it did not specify whether trade, border management, or security would be the immediate priorities for these groups. Furthermore, the communiqué did not indicate that these negotiations are intended to reverse the withdrawals or reinstate the three countries' ECOWAS membership. Instead, the focus is on establishing a new, mutually beneficial relationship.

Both parties reaffirmed the profound historical, socio-cultural, and economic ties that bind their populations, expressing a shared commitment to developing a balanced and realistic cooperation framework. Their future relations, as outlined in the communiqué, will be guided by principles of good-neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, upholding dignity, and ensuring the welfare of all West African populations. The atmosphere during the discussions was described as one of fraternity, mutual respect, and openness, offering a hopeful sign for the complex ECOWAS AES cooperation deal negotiation ahead. The parties also extended their gratitude to Senegalese President Bassirou Faye, along with the government and people of Senegal, for hosting the meeting and their steadfast support for West African integration.

Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor the ongoing negotiations between ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States for the specific terms of any new cooperation framework, as these will directly impact cross-border trade, movement of goods and people, and security-related compliance for businesses operating in West Africa, particularly those with interests in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Source: Original reporting via This Day