ECOWAS-AES DIALOGUE: DAKAR TALKS OFFER FRESH HOPE FOR WEST AFRICAN INTEGRATION –Leaders Urged to Bridge Political Tenisions, Protect Trade and Uphold Democratic Principles By Raymond Enoch

The renewed diplomatic engagement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Confederation of Sahel States, also known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), has opened a new window for regional cooperation, raising hopes that political differences will not permanently fracture the economic, cultural and security ties binding West Africa together.

At the heart of the engagement is a consequential question: Can West African countries preserve the benefits of regional integration despite their differences over governance, sovereignty and the management of security challenges?

The first session of the ministerial dialogue on cooperation between ECOWAS and the AES, held in Dakar, Senegal, on October 17, 2026, suggests that diplomatic channels remain open. The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish joint thematic working groups to explore areas of common interest and develop a framework to guide future relations between the two regional groupings.

Although no final cooperation agreement was announced, the outcome provides a basis for further negotiations and an opportunity to protect shared interests that extend beyond political and institutional boundaries.

An authoritative source at Paradigm News, commenting on the outcome of the engagement, described the development as a recognition of the political reality confronting both sides, while expressing concern about the broader implications of the split for African regional integration.

“It is a reality that both sides have come to embrace. That they agreed to set aside their differences to forge a common path of cooperation is a good thing,” the source said.

The source, however, cautioned that the separation of the three Sahel countries from ECOWAS remained a setback for the wider integration project, particularly because it involved an organisation widely regarded as one of Africa’s most successful regional integration experiments.

“However, in general, the split is not good for regional integration in Africa, especially coming from the most successful regional integration experiment in Africa,” the source added.

Despite the concerns, the Paradigm News source expressed optimism about the prospects for future engagement, noting that the willingness of both sides to pursue dialogue could provide a foundation for rebuilding cooperation.

“There is reason for optimism, going forward,” the source said.

The assessment captures the central dilemma facing West Africa: the political separation of ECOWAS and the AES has created a new institutional reality, but the geographical, economic, historical and cultural ties among their populations remain.

For a region confronting terrorism, economic pressures, infrastructure deficits, food insecurity and persistent development challenges, the significance of the Dakar dialogue lies in its potential to turn diplomatic goodwill into practical cooperation.

The talks brought together delegations led by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, who chairs the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who chairs the AES Ministerial Steering Committee.

In their joint communiqué, the parties acknowledged the deep historical, sociocultural and economic connections among West African peoples. They also emphasised good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, dignity and the welfare of regional populations as principles that should guide their future relationship.

The decision to establish joint thematic working groups is particularly important because it creates a mechanism through which areas of disagreement can be addressed alongside opportunities for cooperation.

The groups are expected to undertake technical consultations and submit recommendations to the ministers for consideration at a subsequent meeting, whose date and venue will be determined through diplomatic channels.

The immediate challenge is to ensure that the process moves beyond declarations of goodwill to produce arrangements that benefit ordinary citizens, businesses, traders, farmers, transport operators and communities whose livelihoods depend on cross-border relationships.

Nigeria’s participation in the Dakar dialogue underscores the importance Abuja attaches to preserving regional cohesion.

Ahead of the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, led the country’s delegation, with the Federal Government reiterating its commitment to regional integration, peace and security.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by Voice of Nigeria, the engagement was intended to align strategic positions and facilitate structured discussions towards a proposed framework for cooperation between ECOWAS and the AES.

Nigeria’s position reflects both its historical role in the establishment of ECOWAS and its strategic interests in a stable, interconnected West Africa.

As one of the regional organisation’s founding members, Nigeria has invested diplomatic and institutional resources in advancing economic integration, conflict resolution and collective security. Its geographical position, extensive commercial networks and shared borders with Niger make developments within the Sahel particularly consequential for its national interests.

Instability in neighbouring countries can have implications for border security, trade, migration, food supplies and the movement of people. Conversely, effective regional cooperation can expand markets, improve security coordination and create opportunities for economic growth.

Nigeria’s call for sustained engagement therefore speaks to a wider regional reality: the withdrawal of countries from a regional organisation does not erase their geographical proximity, historical connections or mutual economic interests.

The Nigerian government has also indicated its intention to revive dormant Joint Commissions with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to strengthen bilateral cooperation, economic relations and security partnerships.

If effectively implemented, such initiatives could complement the ECOWAS-AES dialogue by creating additional channels for practical engagement, particularly in areas where shared interests remain stronger than political differences.

The objective should not be to disregard the disagreements that produced the institutional separation, but to prevent those disagreements from undermining cooperation in areas where joint action remains necessary.

Regional integration is not merely a diplomatic ambition. It is an economic necessity for countries whose development prospects are closely linked through trade, transport, energy, agriculture and access to markets.

The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS, which took effect on January 29, 2025, created a new institutional reality for West Africa. The three countries subsequently strengthened their association through the AES Confederation, reflecting their preference for a different political and security framework.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are landlocked countries whose access to international markets depends heavily on transport corridors, neighbouring states and cross-border commercial arrangements. Coastal economies, including Nigeria, also benefit from trade with their inland neighbours and from the movement of goods through regional supply chains.

Disruptions to these connections can increase transportation costs, delay the delivery of goods, complicate customs procedures and place additional pressure on businesses and consumers.

Small-scale traders, who often operate with limited capital, are particularly vulnerable to administrative barriers and uncertainty at border crossings. Farmers and food distributors also depend on predictable routes to move produce between areas of surplus and markets experiencing shortages.

A practical ECOWAS-AES cooperation framework could help address these concerns by promoting dialogue on customs procedures, transit arrangements, transport infrastructure, commercial regulations and the treatment of cross-border traders.

Such cooperation would not necessarily require the two organisations to abandon their separate institutional arrangements. Rather, it would recognise that functional economic relationships can be maintained through negotiated agreements even where political differences persist.

The same principle applies to energy, telecommunications, public health and regional infrastructure. These sectors require coordination because their networks and markets do not always conform to political boundaries.

For West Africa to compete more effectively in an increasingly interconnected global economy, countries must find ways to reduce unnecessary barriers, improve the predictability of trade and encourage investment across borders.

The Dakar dialogue offers an opportunity to pursue these objectives through structured consultations rather than allowing political disagreements to dictate the future of regional economic cooperation.

Perhaps nowhere is the need for continued engagement more evident than in the area of security.

West Africa continues to confront violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime, trafficking and other threats that cross national borders. The Sahel, in particular, has experienced persistent insecurity, with consequences for communities, livelihoods, public institutions and humanitarian conditions.

These challenges cannot be addressed effectively through isolated national responses alone.

Armed groups can exploit poorly coordinated borders, gaps in intelligence-sharing and differences in security priorities between neighbouring countries. Criminal networks can also take advantage of weak cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

Consequently, dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES could provide an avenue for exploring practical arrangements on intelligence exchange, border management, counterterrorism coordination and the prevention of transnational crime.

Such cooperation would require political commitment, clear communication channels and safeguards to ensure that joint efforts respect national sovereignty and applicable legal obligations.

It would also need to recognise the importance of addressing the conditions that allow insecurity to persist, including poverty, unemployment, weak public services, displacement and limited economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.

Military and law enforcement measures remain important, but sustainable security also depends on development, public confidence, effective governance and cooperation between communities and state institutions.

For this reason, regional security arrangements should be connected to wider development objectives, including the restoration of livelihoods, access to education, agricultural support and investment in border communities.

A sustained ECOWAS-AES dialogue could help identify areas where cooperation is mutually beneficial, even where broader political disagreements remain unresolved.

The test will be whether the proposed working groups can translate the general commitment to cooperation into credible and measurable arrangements.

The Dakar engagement also invites reflection on the founding vision of ECOWAS.

Established through the Treaty of Lagos on May 28, 1975, the organisation was created to promote economic cooperation and integration among West African states, with the wider objective of improving living standards and strengthening relations among their peoples.

The Revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1993 further developed the organisation’s institutional framework and expanded its role in regional cooperation.

Over the decades, the integration project has sought to facilitate the movement of people and goods, promote economic development and establish mechanisms for addressing political instability and security threats.

The emergence of the AES and the withdrawal of its three founding countries have exposed differences over how these objectives should be pursued, particularly where national sovereignty, military-led transitions and regional responses to insecurity intersect.

For ECOWAS, the challenge is to sustain its integration agenda while responding to criticism and changing political circumstances. For the AES, the challenge includes maintaining productive relationships with neighbouring countries and preserving access to the economic and social networks upon which their populations depend.

Neither side can entirely escape the consequences of the other’s decisions.

The future of regional integration will therefore depend partly on the ability of West African leaders to distinguish between political disagreements that require negotiation and shared interests that demand immediate practical cooperation.

The European experience offers a useful, though not identical, point of comparison. European integration developed through successive agreements, institutions and negotiated compromises among countries with different national interests and historical experiences.

The European Union, formally established in 1993, emerged from earlier European integration initiatives that sought to build economic interdependence and strengthen cooperation among participating countries.

Its evolution demonstrates the importance of sustained diplomacy and institutional arrangements, although the European and West African contexts differ considerably.

West Africa must develop solutions suited to its own political realities, security challenges and economic circumstances. However, the underlying lesson remains relevant: durable regional cooperation requires patience, mutual respect, credible institutions and a willingness to pursue common interests.

The debate also extends beyond governments and diplomatic institutions to civil society organisations, democracy advocates, the media and citizens whose interests are directly affected by the future of regional cooperation.

Dr Aliou Barry, Director of Stat View International, Co-Chair of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS), and Afrobarometer’s representative in Guinea, is among the stakeholders contacted by Paradigm News for their perspectives on the ECOWAS-AES dialogue and its implications for regional integration.

Barry described the emergence of the AES as a setback for West African integration but said the crisis also presented an opportunity to address the weaknesses that contributed to the division.

“In my view, the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) represents a setback for West African integration, but it also offers an opportunity to address the weaknesses that contributed to this rupture. Despite this crisis, ECOWAS remains one of Africa’s most advanced regional integration projects,” he said.

His assessment highlights the need for ECOWAS to reflect on the governance concerns that have contributed to tensions between the organisation and some of its member states.

Barry argued that the regional bloc had weakened its credibility through what he considered insufficient firmness towards constitutional manipulation by civilian leaders seeking third presidential terms.

“I believe ECOWAS weakened its credibility through its insufficient firmness towards constitutional manipulation aimed at securing third presidential terms, which I consider a form of civilian coup. Defending democratic principles requires consistent standards for both civilian and military leaders,” he said.

His position adds a significant dimension to the debate over democratic governance in West Africa, where military takeovers, contested political transitions and constitutional changes have repeatedly tested the credibility of regional institutions.

The challenge for ECOWAS is to uphold its protocols and democratic principles consistently while maintaining the diplomatic space needed to resolve disagreements with the AES.

Barry also offered a legal clarification concerning the withdrawal of member states from the regional organisation.

“One legal clarification is necessary: Article 91 of the 1993 Revised Treaty provides for a member state’s withdrawal with one year’s written notice. This right does not arise from military takeovers, nor does withdrawal confer democratic legitimacy on military governments,” he said.

His observation underscores the distinction between the legal procedure for withdrawing from a regional organisation and the question of democratic legitimacy. The exercise of a treaty-based right to withdraw does not, in itself, determine whether a country’s political leadership meets democratic standards.

Despite his concerns about the circumstances surrounding the split, Barry expressed optimism about the resilience of relations among West African populations.

“Nevertheless, it is encouraging that social and economic ties among our populations have endured. Divisions between governments have not erased our shared sense of belonging, and citizens should not bear the cost of political disagreements,” he said.

He called for sustained dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES, with an emphasis on practical cooperation that protects freedom of movement, facilitates trade, strengthens collective security and promotes credible democratic governance.

“The renewed dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES therefore deserves support. Genuine progress will depend on cooperation that preserves freedom of movement, trade and collective security while promoting credible democratic governance. Our priority must remain bringing our peoples closer together and preserving our shared West African community,” Barry said.

His perspective reinforces the broader argument that the future of regional integration will depend not only on diplomatic engagement but also on the ability of governments and regional institutions to protect citizens’ interests while addressing legitimate concerns about governance and accountability.

Civil society organisations, the media, business associations, professional bodies and local communities have important roles to play in promoting informed debate and ensuring that regional policies reflect the needs of the people they are intended to serve.

Their contribution is particularly important when political tensions threaten to reduce complex regional questions to competing narratives about sovereignty, legitimacy and institutional authority.

A region cannot achieve meaningful integration if its institutions operate without sufficient public understanding or if political disputes are allowed to overshadow the shared aspirations of its citizens.

The establishment of joint thematic working groups provides a framework for further engagement, but the substantive details of future cooperation remain to be negotiated. The effectiveness of the process will depend on the willingness of both sides to sustain dialogue, respect agreed procedures and identify areas where practical compromises are possible.

Nigeria and other regional stakeholders can contribute by encouraging constructive engagement, supporting bilateral and multilateral initiatives and promoting cooperation that advances peace, security and economic development.

ECOWAS must continue to pursue its mandate while ensuring that diplomatic engagement remains open to practical solutions. The AES, for its part, faces the task of maintaining constructive relations with its neighbours while advancing its own institutional priorities.

The objective should not be to pretend that differences do not exist, but to prevent them from becoming permanent obstacles to cooperation.

West Africa’s shared challenges are too significant for prolonged diplomatic estrangement to become the defining feature of relations between its countries. Terrorism does not respect borders, economic hardship does not recognise institutional divisions, and the aspirations of citizens cannot be confined to the political arrangements of their governments.

The region’s future will depend on whether its leaders can turn these shared realities into a foundation for renewed cooperation.

The Dakar dialogue has opened that possibility. The next step is to ensure that the working groups deliver practical proposals capable of protecting trade, strengthening security partnerships, preserving social connections and improving the lives of West Africans.

The message emerging from the engagement is that cooperation remains possible even when political differences persist. The separation of the AES countries from ECOWAS represents a challenge to the regional integration project, but it need not prevent both sides from pursuing common interests.

The assessment from Paradigm News points to reasons for optimism, while Barry’s contribution highlights the importance of pairing diplomatic progress with consistent democratic standards and a commitment to the welfare of citizens.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have agreed to establish joint thematic working groups to develop a cooperation framework aimed at strengthening relations between the two regional organisations.

The agreement was contained in a joint communiqué issued after their inaugural Ministerial Dialogue on Cooperation, held in Dakar, Senegal, on October 17, 2026. The communiqué was signed by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Chair of the AES Ministerial Steering Committee.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation based on good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty, dignity and the well-being of West African populations, while acknowledging the deep historical, sociocultural and economic ties binding the region.

The proposed working groups will conduct technical consultations and submit their recommendations to the ministers ahead of their next meeting, with the date and venue to be determined through diplomatic channels.

The initiative follows earlier consultations in Bamako in May 2025 and represents a fresh diplomatic effort to preserve common interests and advance regional cooperation despite political differences between ECOWAS and the AES.

Whether that optimism translates into meaningful progress will depend on the political will to sustain dialogue and the capacity to turn diplomatic commitments into tangible benefits for the people of the region.

Regional integration is ultimately not an end in itself, but a means of securing peace, expanding economic opportunities and building a more prosperous future for the approximately 400 million people of West Africa.