CEDEAO unites to counter AES with unified regional strategy

The Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) has adopted a stricter diplomatic stance toward the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During an ordinary summit in Lungi, Sierra Leone, regional leaders established a firm principle: no member state will engage in separate discussions with Mali, Burkina Faso, or Niger on core regional matters. This move aims to safeguard the cohesion of an already fragile West African space, particularly after the three Sahelian nations officially withdrew in January 2025.

The decision to enforce a single negotiation channel stems from growing unease in Abuja. Since the AES formalized as a confederation, several regional capitals have explored pragmatic arrangements with their Sahelian neighbors, particularly regarding free movement, security cooperation, and trade. By locking in this framework, CEDEAO seeks to prevent the erosion of solidarity in the face of immediate national interests.

United front to strengthen negotiating power

This unified strategy reflects a deliberate power play. Facing an AES that champions sovereignist rhetoric and challenges regional oversight, CEDEAO is banking on the collective weight of its remaining members to preserve decades of integration progress. Key priorities include the common external tariff, free movement of people, and preferential trade agreements—all of which would be severely undermined if renegotiated.

The bloc’s collective approach carries risks, however. By banning bilateral channels, CEDEAO risks prolonged deadlock if internal consensus proves elusive. Coastal states—especially the Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo—maintain deep economic and human ties with Sahelian capitals. Their logistical corridors serve landlocked economies whose stability also hinges on these relationships.

AES forges its autonomous path

Meanwhile, the Alliance of Sahel States continues building its institutional framework. Plans include a confederation-wide passport, efforts toward a shared currency, and a joint 5,000-troop force to combat jihadist groups. Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey are also expanding diplomatic ties with Russia, Turkey, and Iran, reshaping West Africa’s geopolitical landscape.

In this evolving context, CEDEAO’s position is both a red line and an olive branch. Leaders at the Lungi summit reaffirmed their willingness to maintain structured dialogue with the AES on critical issues like cross-border mobility and trade. However, they insist this dialogue must follow CEDEAO’s terms—not those dictated by the Sahelian bloc.

Pending technical disputes

Several unresolved issues demand urgent resolution. The status of Sahelian nationals residing in CEDEAO territory, customs duties on goods from AES countries, shared infrastructure management—such as the Niger Basin Authority—and mutual recognition of diplomas are all flashpoints that could quickly disrupt economic actors and citizens if left unaddressed.

The summit did not unveil an official negotiation timeline. Diplomats indicate a technical commission will likely be tasked with drafting engagement terms with Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey. The Sierra Leonean presidency, currently holding the rotating leadership, will bear the responsibility of presenting this unified stance to Sahelian authorities.

A delicate political equation remains. Certain member states, including Senegal under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, have advocated for a more conciliatory approach toward the AES in recent months, arguing that isolating Sahelian regimes would prove counterproductive. The collective discipline imposed in Lungi will now face a critical test, as internal divisions could render the decision meaningless if left unchecked.