Nigeria Leads ECOWAS Delegation in Talks to Rebuild Ties with Sahel States
Oru Leonard
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is leading the country’s delegation to the first round of discussions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), in Dakar, Senegal.
The high-level diplomatic engagement, which commenced on Friday, October 16, 2026, is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, restoring cohesion and preserving the gains of West African integration.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, the meeting seeks to harmonise the strategic positions of ECOWAS member states and prepare for structured negotiations with the AES at ministerial and technical levels.
The discussions are expected to address shared regional concerns and establish a framework for continued engagement between the two regional blocs.
A major outcome anticipated from the meeting is an agreement on the draft General Framework Agreement between ECOWAS and AES member states ahead of the regional bloc’s end-of-year summit scheduled to hold in Abuja in December 2026.
Nigeria, a founding member of ECOWAS, reiterated its commitment to regional integration, peace and security, stressing the importance of sustaining cooperation among West African countries despite the withdrawal of AES member states from the regional organisation.
The ministry noted that Nigeria’s participation reflects its determination to ensure that the withdrawal does not undermine the longstanding cultural, historical and geographical ties among countries in the subregion.
The statement was signed by Oluwafemi Adeniyi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday, October 16, 2026.
