Togo weighs joining Alliance of Sahel states

Togo is considering joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a bloc led by military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, according to reporting by AFP and the Defense Post. Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey has signaled growing interest, calling it a “strategic decision” that could enhance regional cooperation and grant the landlocked nations greater access to Togo’s port in Lomé.

The AES, initially a defense pact, has expanded its focus to economic and political integration, positioning itself as an alternative to the West African bloc ECOWAS, which the three Sahel nations left in January. Togo’s possible membership raises questions about its future ties with ECOWAS, where it has historically played a mediating role. 

Analysts suggest Lomé could benefit from economic and security cooperation while maintaining links with both blocs. However, critics warn that alignment with military regimes could erode democratic norms and accelerate ECOWAS’s decline as a regional force.