Togo Considers Joining Sahel Confederation, Aiming for Strategic Gains and New Alliances
Togo is actively exploring membership in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation made up of military-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, a move that could significantly reshape the country’s geopolitical strategy. The alliance, initially created as a defense pact in 2023, now seeks closer integration among its members, and Togo’s possible inclusion would provide critical access to ports for these landlocked countries, which is seen as a game-changer.
Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dussey, has taken several steps to signal the nation’s growing interest in the AES. While he had previously indicated that joining the alliance was “not impossible,” he made more explicit remarks last week, suggesting that Togo was considering membership. In a social media post, he highlighted that Togo’s potential membership in the AES could strengthen regional cooperation and provide member countries with access to the sea—a crucial need for the landlocked trio of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
This interest is rooted in the growing economic and security ties between Togo and the AES nations. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have faced severe challenges from jihadist groups and have been distancing themselves from former colonial power France, shifting their focus toward new international partners, including Russia. Togo, too, has shown solidarity with the AES members’ commitment to greater sovereignty, which includes resisting external pressures and rejecting quick political transitions.
For these Sahelian nations, access to a reliable port is essential, especially given the increasing tensions with neighboring countries like Ivory Coast and Benin, accused of aligning too closely with Western powers. Instead of relying solely on their own ports, the three nations have turned to Togo’s port in Lomé and Ghana’s Tema port for vital access to global trade routes. Togo’s involvement in the AES could enhance this access, fostering new trade opportunities and strengthening regional economic ties.
Political analysts suggest that Togo’s membership could also bring more agile military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and economic benefits, particularly from resources like Nigerien oil and revitalized trade routes. Togo’s increasing engagement with the AES comes at a time when jihadist groups are making inroads in northern Togo, near the Burkina Faso border, complicating security challenges for the country.
Despite these potential advantages, the move is not without controversy. The decision to engage with the AES has drawn criticism from Togo’s opposition, who warn that it could signal a shift away from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc that advocates for democratic governance and the rule of law. Togo has maintained close diplomatic ties with the military-led governments of the AES nations, and some political analysts suggest that joining the confederation could help Togo’s leadership avoid the constraints imposed by ECOWAS.
The notion of staying in both ECOWAS and the AES has been floated by some analysts, with political scientist Madi Djabakate suggesting that Togo could maintain its historical ties with ECOWAS while exploring new alliances with the AES. However, some experts warn that Togo’s membership in the AES could further fracture ECOWAS, weakening the bloc’s cohesion and influence in the region.
As Togo weighs its options, the broader implications for West African geopolitics remain uncertain. If Togo joins the AES, it could deepen the rift within ECOWAS and signal a broader shift in regional power dynamics, with the AES nations continuing to strengthen their own vision of sovereignty and self-determination.
