ECOWAS: Maada Bio calls for closer ties with the AES

Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, the new Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, is stepping up diplomatic efforts to rebuild ties with the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—which officially withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025.

Six weeks after the Abuja Summit on June 22, where a ministerial troika was established to manage the exit of the three Sahelian states, Julius Maada Bio reiterated on Tuesday, from Freetown, a call for dialogue with the AES leadership.

Hosting ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray on a courtesy visit to the presidential palace, Maada Bio advocated for a “closer and stronger partnership” between the two West African blocs. “It is imperative that we build a stronger relationship between ECOWAS and the AES nations, and leverage this partnership for the advancement of our Community,” he stated.

The Sierra Leonean Head of State emphasized that these relations are essential to “promote trade, free movement, and strengthen peace and security in the region.”

This diplomatic push follows in the footsteps of his Nigerian predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who declared during the Abuja summit that ECOWAS’s doors “remain open for unity, solidarity, and a shared vision of the future.”

The official withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger took place in January 2025, in line with Article 91 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty, which requires a one-year notice period. In response, the regional organization set up a mechanism composed of a ministerial troika, a chief negotiator, and the Commission President to politically and technically manage the separation.

This framework is aimed at protecting citizens’ rights, managing the institutional and security consequences of the withdrawal, and maintaining the free movement of goods and people.

Meanwhile, the three AES countries continue to build their joint institutions. Since the official creation of their confederation in July 2024, they have adopted a flag, an anthem, a common passport, and are planning the establishment of a joint military force.

The Freetown meeting comes after a dialogue session held in Bamako on May 22 between the ECOWAS Commission and the foreign ministers of the AES countries—an initiative welcomed as a positive signal of continued engagement despite institutional separation.

Julius Maada Bio also expressed his support for ongoing political and electoral transitions in the sub-region, specifically mentioning Guinea’s transition and the upcoming elections in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau. He proposed the organization of a “Special Summit on the Future of West Africa,” to coincide with ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary.

For his part, Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray provided an update on political developments in member states and addressed challenges related to the Community Development Levy (CDL). He also announced the upcoming deployment of a joint assessment mission to Sierra Leone and Guinea to help resolve the Kenzia border dispute between the two countries.