Foreign ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger met in Ouagadougou on Friday to coordinate their positions ahead of talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), insisting that negotiations would not involve their countries rejoining the regional bloc.
“Some media outlets are already beginning to speculate about the three countries’ desire to return to ECOWAS; this is an opportunity to reassure everyone that there is no truth in this,” Burkinabe Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore said.
He stressed that the discussions would recognise the AES and ECOWAS as separate organisations.
“It will be a matter for us to continue discussions with ECOWAS to see what new legal framework we can build together to enable our people to continue their activities and enjoy the benefits we have achieved together in the past,” Traore said.
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop also emphasised the need for negotiations between the two regional blocs.
“Today, these discussions with ECOWAS must, more than ever, take place within the framework of an entity-to-entity dialogue between the AES and ECOWAS,” Diop said.
The three countries, which form the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), are seeking a new legal framework governing relations between the two organisations, including trade and freedom of movement.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all governed by military authorities following coups, announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024. Their departure formally took effect in January 2025, ending decades of membership in the West African organisation.
The three countries established the AES as a mutual defence alliance in 2023 before transforming it into a confederation in July 2024.
Source: Viory
