Meeting in Dakar on 17 October 2026, ECOWAS and AES Foreign Ministers opened an unprecedented dialogue on the future of their relations. This meeting, the first since the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS, marks a major diplomatic step towards stability and regional integration in West Africa.
The Dakar meeting is part of a process of rapprochement between ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Exchanges have helped to address the foundations of renewed cooperation, based on mutual respect and State sovereignty.
Prior to this meeting, a consultation of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of ECOWAS member States was held on 16 October, chaired by Sheikh Niang, Senegalese Minister for African Integration and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Foreign Ministers.
A historic dialogue between two African blocs
The Dakar meeting follows the decisions of the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government, held on 19 July 2026 in Lungi, Sierra Leone. It follows on from the Bamako consultations, where both sides expressed their willingness to build a balanced cooperation that respected their respective choices.
This dialogue framework identified the priorities and expectations of each party, while agreeing on guiding principles to guide their future discussions. Trade highlighted the need for a pragmatic approach to strengthen regional stability and policy dialogue.
A strong signal for African unity
The two organizations agreed to continue discussions through a series of meetings aimed at establishing a partnership framework in areas of common interest, security, trade, economic integration and governance. This gradual approach reflects a shared desire to build constructive and lasting cooperation.
The Dakar meeting illustrates the determination of African States to overcome their differences in order to preserve the unity and stability of the continent. By resuming dialogue, ECOWAS and AES are paving the way for a new diplomatic dynamic capable of redefining regional balances and strengthening Africa's voice on the international stage.
