The Alliance of Sahel States — Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — have been invited to participate in the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), scheduled to take place in Abuja on June 20-21, despite their formal withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year.

This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, during a private sector roundtable in Lagos.

The Sahel nations, all under military rule, officially exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, following a year-long notice period after announcing their decision to leave the regional bloc.

The withdrawal was preceded by mounting diplomatic tensions, but Tuggar emphasised that despite their departure, diplomatic relations with these nations remain intact, particularly through the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission.

“We have invited them,” Tuggar said, explaining the continuing ties between Nigeria and its Sahelian neighbours.

He added, “We also have, whether someone likes it or not, certain things that bring us together. For instance, we have the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission that has been doing so much good work.“

Highlighting the importance of collaboration, Tuggar stressed, “We have to put all of that aside and yes, we need them; we need the AES for security, but they need us too.”

The private sector roundtable in Lagos marked the Ministry’s first formal engagement leading up to WAES, which Tuggar described as a strategic legacy initiative supported by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his counterparts across West Africa.

The summit aims to shift regional economic dynamics from dependency to productivity and foster integrated value chains.

WAES is expected to bring together Heads of State, Ministers, investors, and regional institutions from across West Africa to explore pathways for economic cooperation.