Nigeria Joins ECOWAS Consultations in Dakar Ahead of Talks with Sahel States

Nigeria has joined consultations in Dakar, Senegal, ahead of negotiations between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the bloc formed by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after they withdrew from ECOWAS. The Nigerian delegation is led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye.

According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Friday’s sessions were designed to build a common ECOWAS position on a draft General Framework Agreement, with formal talks with the three Sahel countries scheduled to begin on Saturday.

What is on the table

The proposed framework covers 18 priority areas. These include the free movement of people and goods, trade, security cooperation and cross-border collaboration. Since the AES states left ECOWAS, traders, transport operators and families living along shared borders have faced uncertainty about visas, tariffs and residency rights, making a workable agreement important for millions of people.

Security is another major element. Armed groups operate across the Sahel and coastal states, and both blocs have an interest in sharing intelligence and coordinating responses.

Key points

• Venue: Dakar, Senegal.
• Parties: ECOWAS and the AES (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger).
• Agenda: a draft framework covering 18 priority areas.
• Next milestone: a summit planned for Abuja in December.
• Status: no agreement had been announced as talks began.

Nigeria’s role

Background

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally announced their exit from ECOWAS in early 2024 and later formed their own confederation. Since then, both sides have said they want to preserve practical cooperation, particularly on trade and the movement of people, even as political relations remain complicated.

As the region’s largest economy and a neighbour of Niger, Nigeria has strong economic and security ties with the Sahel. Officials hope the talks can protect trade routes and the movement of people while respecting the decision of the three countries to pursue their own alliance. Diplomats caution that negotiations of this kind can take several rounds, and that the December summit is the next key date to watch.

Photo: Unsplash (illustrative).