President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire made a request that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States should hold new talks. His statement was made in Abidjan on August 14, 2025.
Ouattara highlighted the obvious need for discussions to eliminate the political and security tensions plaguing the whole of West Africa.
The Alliance of Sahel States is a new mutual support organization comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which mutually decided to quit ECOWAS in September 2023.
The three countries considered that their rights to sovereignty were violated due to the sanctions imposed after the military coups in their states, so they decided to separate from ECOWAS.
The regional divide has led to a deep rift between the parties and thus has had an adverse effect on cooperation in fighting the common security threat.
West Africa is dealing with the spread of violence by insurgents and terrorism along the borders of the region, particularly the Sahel area where such activities as kidnapping, and recruitment of militants for the ongoing jihadi war.
President Ouattara on his part asserted that there is a great need for coordination between ECOWAS and AES members.
This is because both groups devise common ways to tackle shared threats efficiently. Côte d’Ivoire is determined to stand behind peaceful missions which seek to re-establish regional partnership and unity.
Ouattara made his points, but ECOWAS has not officially reacted to his statements so far, however, the body was earlier inclined to open talk doors with AES countries on condition that democratic governance prevails.
Success in conversation can transform West Africa’s safety and economic structures along with trade frameworks, as regional stability and development largely depend on these discussions, according to local experts in Regional Peace and Security.
