The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a firmer diplomatic stance toward the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During an ordinary summit in Lungi, Sierra Leone, regional leaders established a critical principle: no member state can now pursue separate negotiations with Mali, Burkina Faso, or Niger on key issues. This move aims to safeguard the cohesion of a West African bloc weakened since the three Sahelian countries officially withdrew in January 2024.

The decision to centralize dialogue stems from growing concerns in Abuja. Since the AES formalized as a confederation, several regional capitals have explored pragmatic arrangements with their Sahelian neighbors, particularly on free movement, security cooperation, and trade. By locking in a unified format, ECOWAS seeks to prevent the erosion of solidarity amid competing national interests.

Unified bloc to strengthen negotiating power

This collective strategy reflects a power play in negotiations. Facing an AES that champions sovereignist discourse and rejects regional oversight, ECOWAS is banking on the aggregated strength of its remaining members to protect decades of integration gains. The common external tariff, free movement of people, and preferential trade terms are among the most sensitive files—each under threat if renegotiated.

Yet this unified approach carries risks. By banning bilateral channels, ECOWAS risks prolonged deadlocks if internal consensus proves elusive. Coastal states like Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo maintain deep economic and human ties with Sahelian capitals, as their logistics corridors serve landlocked economies whose stability also depends on these links.

AES forges ahead with autonomous path

Across the negotiating table, the Alliance of Sahel States continues building its institutional framework. Confederal passports, a proposed common currency, and a joint 5,000-strong force to combat jihadist groups—Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey are laying the groundwork for a credible alternative bloc. Diplomatic outreach to Russia, Turkey, and Iran further underscores this geopolitical realignment reshaping West African balances.

In this context, ECOWAS’s position is both a red line and an olive branch. Leaders in Lungi reaffirmed their commitment to structured dialogue with the AES on critical issues like cross-border mobility and trade. However, they insist this dialogue must adhere to ECOWAS’s terms, not those dictated by the Sahelian bloc.

Pending technical disputes

Several unresolved technical disputes loom over negotiations. The status of Sahelian nationals in ECOWAS territory, customs regimes for AES-origin goods, shared infrastructure like the Niger Basin Authority, and mutual recognition of diplomas are all flashpoints that could quickly disrupt economic actors and citizens if left unsettled.

No official negotiation timeline was disclosed after the summit. Diplomats indicate a technical commission will be tasked with drafting engagement terms for Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey. Sierra Leone, as the current ECOWAS chair, will spearhead this unified stance in talks with Sahelian authorities.

A delicate political equation remains. Some member states, including Senegal under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, have advocated a more conciliatory approach toward the AES, arguing that isolation would prove counterproductive. The collective discipline imposed in Lungi must now withstand these divergent views—or risk becoming an empty declaration.