Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic have resumed high-level engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), more than 18 months after the three countries formally withdrew from the regional bloc.
The two sides agreed on Saturday to establish joint working groups tasked with developing a framework agreement to guide future cooperation.
The three Sahelian nations, currently governed by military juntas, withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 after forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), following a series of military coups and escalating tensions with the regional organisation.
Although discussions between ECOWAS and the AES have continued since the withdrawal, Saturday’s meeting marked the first official ministerial-level engagement between the two sides.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, both parties welcomed the “spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness” that characterised the discussions.
They also underscored the importance of maintaining good neighbourly relations, with particular emphasis on respecting national sovereignty.
The AES delegation was led by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, while Senegal’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Cheikh Niang, headed the ECOWAS delegation.
Since their military takeovers, the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have progressively distanced themselves from France, their former colonial power, while strengthening diplomatic and security relations with Russia.
The three countries have also expressed criticism of some West African coastal nations, including Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, over what they consider to be their close relations with Paris.
In June 2025, Nigeria’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed optimism about the possibility of the three countries returning to ECOWAS, highlighting the importance of regional unity and cooperation.
The latest engagement signals a renewed effort by both sides to maintain diplomatic dialogue and explore avenues for cooperation despite their political differences.
However, the establishment of joint working groups does not in itself indicate that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are preparing to rejoin ECOWAS, as the outcome will depend on further negotiations and agreements between the parties.
