AES: Proactive border-opening diplomacy despite tensions with ECOWAS
In a significant decision, the Sahel States Alliance (AES) announced the opening of its borders to citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This announcement, made on December 14 in a statement signed by the Malian and Confederation President, General Assimi Goïta, allows ECOWAS nationals to freely move, reside, and settle within the territories of AES member states, in accordance with national legislation. Vehicles registered within the ECOWAS space will also benefit from these measures, although each state retains the right to deny access to individuals deemed “undesirable”.
This opening comes amid growing tensions between ECOWAS and the AES countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), which have recently reaffirmed their intention to permanently withdraw from the regional organization. During a meeting in Niamey, the foreign ministers of these three nations, under the presidency of Abdoulaye Diop of Mali, emphasized the irreversibility of their decision while highlighting initiatives for deeper integration. These include the harmonization of identity and travel documents, aimed at further facilitating mobility and exchanges within the Confederation.
On the ECOWAS side, efforts are being made to prevent this permanent exit. At the Atlantic Dialogues held in Rabat, Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces, General Birame Diop, highlighted the organization’s achievements while advocating for renewed cooperation. However, this stance seems insufficient to address the frustrations of AES member states, who criticize foreign interference and the structural failures of ECOWAS.
In this context, the AES positions itself as an ambitious alternative for its members, prioritizing national sovereignty and tailored integration. This decision to open borders, while symbolic, marks a milestone in the redefinition of relations between the two regional blocs. It remains to be seen whether ECOWAS will be able to address its structural challenges and restore the lost trust of its former members.
