Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to West African regional integration as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, leads 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, disclosed this in a press release, describing the high-level meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore regional cohesion and preserve the gains of regional integration.
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He explained that the discussions aim to align the strategic positions of ECOWAS member states and facilitate structured engagement with the AES.
Adeniyi added that the talks are expected to produce an agreed draft General Framework Agreement between ECOWAS and AES member states ahead of the regional bloc’s end-of-year summit scheduled to take place in Abuja in December 2026.
“It is expected that at the end of this round of engagement, there would be concurrence on the draft General Framework Agreement between ECOWAS and AES Member States,” the spokesperson stated.
He noted that Nigeria, as a founding member of ECOWAS, remained committed to promoting regional integration, peace and security across West Africa.
Enikanolaiye’s participation in the Dakar engagement, Adeniyi observed, underscored Nigeria’s determination to sustain cooperation among countries in the region despite existing political differences.
“Nigeria, as a key founding member of ECOWAS, remains committed to the principles of regional integration, peace, and security,” he reiterated.
Adeniyi further emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to preserving longstanding cultural and geographical ties among West African countries following the withdrawal of AES member states from ECOWAS.
“The presence of the Honourable Minister of State underscores Nigeria’s dedication to ensuring that the exit of the AES member states does not negatively impact on the age-long cultural and geographical ties between brother West African countries,” he stressed.
The Dakar meeting is expected to advance efforts to establish a framework for continued dialogue between ECOWAS and the AES, with its outcome serving as a basis for further discussions at the December summit in Abuja.
