Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Resume Talks With ECOWAS After Withdrawal
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have resumed formal ministerial dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), agreeing to establish joint working groups to develop a framework for future cooperation.
The agreement was reached on Saturday, October 17, in Dakar, Senegal, during the first official ministerial meeting between ECOWAS and the three Sahelian countries since their withdrawal from the regional bloc became effective in January 2025.
In a joint statement, both sides welcomed the discussions, citing a spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness. They also stressed the importance of maintaining good-neighbourly relations while respecting national sovereignty.
The three countries were represented by a delegation led by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, while Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, led the ECOWAS delegation.
The talks mark a new stage in efforts to manage relations between the regional bloc and the three military-led governments, which established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after breaking away from ECOWAS.
The countries announced their withdrawal amid disputes with ECOWAS over sanctions, military rule and demands for a return to constitutional governance. They have since strengthened political and security cooperation through the AES, while pursuing closer relations with Russia and reducing ties with France.
Despite their departure, trade, cross-border movement and regional security remain shared concerns, given the countries’ geographic links and common challenges, including armed insurgencies across the Sahel.
The newly agreed working groups are expected to develop proposals for a cooperation framework. However, the dialogue does not amount to an agreement for the three countries to rejoin ECOWAS.
The outcome could shape future relations between the two regional groupings and influence cooperation on security, trade and movement across West Africa.
