The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des États du Sahel, AES) have agreed to work together to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the region.
This was disclosed in a joint statement released by the two bodies after consultations between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AES Confederation and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, on May 22, 2025, in Bamako, Republic of Mali.
“The parties expressed a common concern regarding the security situation and agreed on the urgency of working to create the necessary conditions for effective cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” according to the statement.
Recall that the member states from the AES Confederation had withdrawn from the ECOWAS in January 2025 to form their own body after accusing the regional bloc of not taking issues affecting the AES countries seriously, among other grievances.
During the discussions, both parties adopted the summary record of the consultations for the launch of negotiations between the AES Confederation and ECOWAS, the joint statement disclosed.
It added that the parties addressed important issues related to political, diplomatic, administrative and institutional, legal, security, and economic and social development aspects.
Both Parties recalled the commitment of the Heads of State in the sub-region to prioritise the higher interest of West African populations by safeguarding the achievements of regional integration, particularly the free movement of people and goods, until new agreements are concluded.
The parties praised the spirit of fraternity and responsibility that characterised these initial direct exchanges and agreed to continue them, always guided by the interests of West African populations.
ECOWAS has, meanwhile, left its doors open to the AES countries to return to the fold.
The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, recently held a meeting with his Nigerien counterpart as part of efforts to convince the three members of AES to return to ECOWAS.
