ECOWAS-AES crisis: President Bassirou FAYE ready to restore dialogue between the two organisations
The newly elected President of Senegal, H.E. Bassirou Diomaye FAYE, has expressed his willingness and readiness to restore dialogue between ECOWAS and the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), two African organizations currently experiencing strained relations.
This intention was reaffirmed during his official visit to Mali and Burkina Faso on Thursday, May 30, 2024, aimed at fostering friendship and cooperation.
As a reminder, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, members of the Sahel States Alliance since September 16, 2023, collectively decided on January 28, 2024, to withdraw from ECOWAS.
Their decision stemmed from ECOWAS’s perceived deviation from its original objective of socioeconomic and cultural integration of West African peoples, instead aligning with foreign powers.
According to ECOWAS leaders, this withdrawal will only take effect in late January 2025, a year after the decision was notified.
Since then, efforts have been made to persuade AES leaders to reconsider. However, as of now, the AES remains steadfast in its decision, pursuing its vision of integration within the Sahel region and joint counterterrorism efforts.
President FAYE of Senegal sees potential openings in each organization’s stance, viewing them as opportunities to initiate dialogue.
He intends to seize this chance and work tirelessly to establish frameworks for convergence between ECOWAS and the AES, aiming for seamless sub-regional integration.
According to President FAYE, it is the responsibility of the current generation to ensure that the legacy left by the founding fathers, namely ECOWAS, remains a vehicle for people’s integration, free from foreign influence.
He calls for profound reforms within ECOWAS and its currency, emphasizing the need for a united front in safeguarding regional interests.
Read again the article: Burkina Faso: What you need to know about President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s visit to Ouagadougou
Moussa KAFOU
