AES and ECOWAS foreign ministers meet in Lomé to discuss regional cooperation
via Lefaso.net2 min read
Foreign ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States AES and officials from the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS met in Lomé on Friday, April 17, 2026, to explore cooperation prospects for the benefit of West African populations. The meeting, held alongside the Togo-Sahel strategy meeting, included Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey, and his AES counterparts Abdoulaye Diop, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, and Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray and recently appointed chief negotiator Lansana Kouyaté also participated. The initially informal meeting introduced the chief negotiator to the AES ministers, who then heard from him to ensure a convergence of views on his mission's objectives and content. Discussions emphasized preserving regional integration achievements and promoting the well-being of West African populations. Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, which holds the AES presidency, stated that the AES remains open to dialogue, in line with its commitment made at the Bamako meeting, to preserve essential elements for the overall well-being of West African populations. The parties agreed to work towards establishing a formal cooperation framework to serve as a legal basis for relations between the AES and ECOWAS. The AES ministers reaffirmed their openness to dialogue, respecting the directives of their highest authorities. Togo expressed its willingness to act as a facilitator,
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