Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have resumed formal dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with both sides agreeing to establish joint working groups to develop a proposed cooperation agreement.
The agreement was reached at the first session of a ministerial meeting on cooperation held in Dakar, Senegal, according to a joint communiqué dated October 17, 2026.
The communiqué said the working groups would conduct technical discussions towards a cooperation agreement between ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The meeting is expected to lay the foundations for future cooperation between the two blocs.
Under the agreement, the working groups will submit their findings to ministers for consideration before the next ministerial session. The date and venue of the meeting will be determined through diplomatic consultations.
Delegations
The ECOWAS delegation was led by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, who chairs the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
The AES delegation was led by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who chairs the confederation’s ministerial steering committee.
The two ministers co-chaired the meeting and signed the communiqué on behalf of their respective organisations.
Terms of cooperation
The communiqué said both sides welcomed the spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness during the discussions.
They also acknowledged the historical, socio-cultural and economic ties between their peoples and agreed that future relations should be guided by good neighbourliness and respect for sovereignty, dignity and the well-being of West African populations.
The two blocs expressed the desire to develop a cooperation arrangement that would be “balanced, realistic” and protect the interests of their peoples.
Previous consultations
The Dakar meeting followed consultations held in Bamako, Mali, on May 22, 2025, according to the communiqué.
During the earlier meeting, the two sides exchanged views on areas of common interest that could form the basis for further discussions.
Background
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024 following tensions with the regional bloc after military takeovers in the three countries.
Their departure raised concerns about the future of regional trade, the free movement of people and security cooperation across West Africa.
The communiqué thanked Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, as well as the Senegalese government and people, for their hospitality and support for West African integration.
