Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso return to dialogue with ECOWAS after 18 months

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, three military-led Sahel countries, returned to the negotiating table with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday, more than 18 months after pulling out of the regional bloc.

Naija News reports that the two sides agreed to work toward a “framework agreement” to guide future cooperation.

The three countries, all ruled by juntas that seized power between 2020 and 2023, formally exited ECOWAS in January 2025 after forming their own bloc, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Although both blocs have held discussions since January 2025, Saturday’s session was the first official ministerial-level meeting. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, led the AES delegation, while his Senegalese counterpart, Cheikh Niang, headed the ECOWAS team.

In a joint communique issued on Saturday evening, both parties commended the “spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness” that characterised the talks. They also resolved to establish joint thematic working groups to develop a framework cooperation agreement, while stressing the need to respect each other’s sovereignty.