The Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States (AGS) held their first official consultation in Bamako, according to a statement from Mali's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X (formerly Twitter). This marks the first formal meeting between representatives of these two regional organizations.
During the talks, the sides discussed a wide range of topics—including politics, diplomacy, legal frameworks, security, and economic and social development. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing the interests and well-being of the peoples of West Africa, while also emphasizing the importance of preserving key achievements of regional integration such as free movement of people and goods.
Security was singled out as a pressing concern. Meeting participants agreed to lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in combating terrorism and addressing security challenges in the region.
This diplomatic engagement comes at a time of shifting alliances in West Africa. In April, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed his efforts to bring Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger back into ECOWAS; however, these attempts have so far been unsuccessful. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024 and officially left the bloc on January 29, 2025.
In the aftermath, the so-called "Sahelian trio" created the Alliance of Sahel States (AGS) confederation on July 6, 2024. By January 29, 2025, the three countries introduced new national passports, officially replacing ECOWAS travel documents in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Despite these challenges, both AGS and ECOWAS seem determined to maintain dialogue and pursue cooperation on vital regional issues.
