Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali resume talks with ECOWAS 18 months after withdrawal

Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali have held their first official ministerial-level talks with the Economic Community of West African States since leaving the regional bloc in January 2025.

At last weekend’s meeting, representatives of ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States agreed to establish joint working groups to develop a framework agreement for cooperation.

The engagement follows discussions that have continued since the three countries withdrew from ECOWAS amid tensions over military coups and the bloc’s response. In a joint statement, both sides welcomed the “spirit of fraternity, mutual respect and openness” that characterised the talks. They also stressed the importance of good neighbourly relations and respect for national sovereignty.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, led the AES delegation, while Senegal’s Foreign Minister, Cheikh Niang, headed the ECOWAS delegation. The military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the AES before their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

Since taking power, they have reduced ties with France, their former colonial ruler, while strengthening relations with Russia. They have also criticised coastal West African countries, including Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, over what they consider close relationships with Paris.

In June 2025, Nigeria’s then Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, expressed optimism that the three countries would eventually return to ECOWAS. Saturday’s agreement concerns a framework for cooperation between the two sides and does not announce their return to the bloc.