AES membership: Togo’s diplomatic chief’s recent remarks confirm Togo’s position?
Togo appears determined to join the Sahel States Alliance (AES), an organization once underestimated but now sought after by several African nations, thanks to the determination and audacity of its three founding leaders. Under the leadership of President Faure Gnassingbé, Togo is seemingly eager to become an integral part of the three “polar stars” that guide Africa toward its sovereignty.
In January, Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Robert Dussey, stated in an interview on Voxafrica that Togo’s membership in the AES was not impossible, and that the decision lay with President Gnassingbé. Recently, in a post on his official Facebook page, Minister Dussey reaffirmed that “Togo is considering joining the Sahel States Alliance (AES).”
Togo, which is currently seen as a friendly country to the AES Confederation, now seeks to go beyond this status and become a full member. Is this a final decision? According to the minister, “it is a strategic decision that could strengthen regional cooperation and provide landlocked member countries with access to the sea”. It is important to note that Togo maintains excellent relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
These relations have become even stronger and more dynamic since tensions arose between these countries and ECOWAS. Togo’s refusal to serve as a rear base for destabilizing neighboring countries, and its decision not to close the Port of Lomé in compliance with ECOWAS’ inhumane sanctions, have brought Togo closer to the AES.
Togo’s potential membership in this organization would mark another significant step in consolidating these relationships and pooling forces to address common challenges, particularly those related to security and socio-economic development.
