Senegal’s Faye pushes for dialogue, calls for easing tensions between ECOWAS and AES

Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye said he has stepped up his efforts to foster reconciliation with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), adding that he is making progress with each of these nations.

After leaving ECOWAS in January, citing lack of support for combating Islamist violence and subservience to France, the three countries established an Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in early 2024. Faced with growing tensions between the ECOWAS and the AES, Faye has recently made several visits to the region and advocated for an inclusive dialogue that would mark a pivotal step in seeking renewed cooperation between these opposing blocs. During his visits to Bamako and Ouagadougou, he stressed the importance of understanding each party’s stance before proposing solutions.

The Senegalese president has reiterated that he believes in the importance of collaboration between ECOWAS and the AES, which is crucial for security and stability of the greater West African region. “I am making progress with this mission,” Faye stated at the Doha Forum for political dialogue in Qatar. While admitting that “there is nothing today to prevent the Alliance of Sahel States from being maintained, since it is already there and is a response to the security situation facing these countries in particular,” he asked the ECOWAS not to try to isolate but to work with the AES. “We share borders with other ECOWAS member countries, and if those countries have security problems, we will have security problems,” president Faye added. The AES focuses on security issues, particularly combating jihadism, while asserting greater independence from both ECOWAS and foreign influences, including France.