Foreign ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger met in Ouagadougou to coordinate their positions ahead of talks with the economic community of West African states (ECOWAS), insisting that negotiations would not involve their countries rejoining the regional bloc.
He stressed that the discussions would recognise the AES and ECOWAS as separate organisations. Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop also emphasised the need for negotiations between the two regional blocs.
The three countries, which form the confederation of Sahel states (AES), are seeking a new legal framework governing relations between the two organisations, including trade and freedom of movement.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all governed by military authorities following coups, announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024.
Their departure formally took effect in January 2025, ending decades of membership in the West African organization.
The three countries established the AES as a mutual defence alliance in 2023 before transforming it into a confederation in July 2024.
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