ECOWAS-AES Crisis: President Bassirou Faye willing to restore dialogue between the two organizations
The new President of Senegal, H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has expressed his willingness and availability to restore dialogue between ECOWAS and the Sahel States Alliance (AES), two African organizations currently experiencing a period of strained relations. His intention was reaffirmed during his friendship and working visit on Thursday, May 30, 2024, to Mali and Burkina Faso.
As a reminder, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, Sahel countries forming the Sahel States Alliance (AES) since September 16, 2023, jointly decided on January 28, 2024, to separate from ECOWAS. Their reason cited was ECOWAS’s perceived departure from its initial objective of socio-economic and cultural integration of the peoples of West Africa and its submission to foreign powers.
According to ECOWAS leaders, this departure will only take effect at the end of January 2025, one year after the notification of the decision. Since then, various actors have attempted to convince AES leaders to reconsider their decision. However, as of now, AES remains firm in its decision, continuing its vision of integration within the Sahelian region and joint efforts against terrorism.
For President Faye of Senegal, he sees potential openings in each position between ECOWAS and AES, allowing for the initiation of dialogue. He therefore intends to seize this opportunity and work tirelessly to create frameworks of convergence between the two organizations for seamless regional integration.
According to the Senegalese president, it is the responsibility of the present generation to do everything possible to ensure that the legacy left by the founding fathers, namely ECOWAS, remains an organ of people’s integration, free from any foreign influence. He calls for profound reforms of ECOWAS and its currency.
