Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – the three Sahel states that have been ruled by juntas since 2020 – resumed formal talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday, ending an 18‑month break that began when the trio left the regional bloc in January 2025.
The three countries had formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after their departure, a move that was seen as a challenge to ECOWAS’s authority. Although negotiations had been underway since the AES’s creation, Saturday marked the first official ministerial meeting between the two sides.
In a joint statement issued that evening, the parties welcomed the “spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness” of the talks and stressed the importance of maintaining “good neighbourliness” and “respect for sovereignty.” They also agreed to set up joint thematic working groups to work toward a framework cooperation agreement.
The AES delegation was led by Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean‑Marie Traoré, while ECOWAS was represented by Senegal’s Cheikh Niang. Both sides said the meeting was a step toward restoring regional stability.
Since taking power, the Sahel juntas have distanced themselves from France and other former colonial powers, accusing them of being too close to Paris. They have also moved closer politically to Moscow, positioning themselves as anti‑imperialist and pro‑sovereignty states while criticising West African coastal countries that remain aligned with France.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
