ECOWAS-AES: After the Break, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Resume Dialogue in Dakar

On October 17, 2026, ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) held their first formal ministerial meeting in Dakar since Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s withdrawal took effect in January 2025. Co-chaired by Cheikh Niang and Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, the meeting produced an agreement to establish joint working groups to prepare a framework cooperation agreement. Security, trade and the free movement of people and goods are among the key issues in the renewed dialogue. The groups’ findings will be presented to ministers at a future meeting, whose date and location have yet to be decided.