U.S. Welcomes ECOWAS-AES Meeting in Dakar

The United States welcomed the first ministerial meeting between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) since their split in January 2025. Held in Dakar on October 17, 2026, the meeting was co-chaired by Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Niang and his Burkinabè counterpart Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who led the AES delegation. The two blocs agreed to create joint thematic working groups to prepare a framework cooperation agreement. Diplomats will set the date and location of the next meeting later.