The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, have opened negotiations to establish a new framework for cooperation nearly 21 months after the three countries withdrew from ECOWAS.
The talks, held in Dakar on 17 October, resulted in an agreement to establish joint working groups to discuss 18 priority areas, including trade, cross-border security and the movement of people and goods.
The outcome will be submitted to ministers ahead of a future ministerial meeting.
The negotiations do not signal a return to ECOWAS membership, as the three Sahelian countries maintain that their withdrawal is irreversible. However, both sides are seeking to preserve vital regional ties despite their institutional split.
