By: Aminata Sesay
Sierra Leone has joined consultations between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Dakar, Senegal, as both sides seek to maintain regional cooperation following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray is participating in the consultations, held on October 17, 2026, to explore institutional and legal frameworks for future relations between the two regional groupings.
The discussions are co-chaired by Senegal’s Minister of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, and ECOWAS Chief Negotiator Dr. Lansana Kouyaté.
Key issues under consideration include promoting mutual understanding, preserving longstanding economic and social ties, and identifying practical ways for the two groupings to continue cooperating despite changes in regional political and institutional arrangements.
Sierra Leone’s participation underscores its support for diplomatic dialogue in addressing regional differences and sustaining cooperation on shared priorities, including peace, security and sustainable development.
The engagement also builds on Sierra Leone’s previous leadership role within ECOWAS and the outcomes of the mid-year summits held in Lungi, highlighting the country’s continued involvement in efforts to advance regional integration.
The Dakar consultations are expected to inform further negotiations between ECOWAS and the AES ahead of the regional bloc’s end-of-year summit scheduled for December. Heads of State and Government are expected to review progress and consider the next steps towards establishing a structured framework for engagement between the two organizations.
The talks come amid efforts to preserve economic, social and political cooperation across West Africa and the Sahel, where longstanding ties continue to connect countries despite changes in regional alliances.