More than half of Togolese people (54%) believe their country would better serve its interests by leaving ECOWAS to join the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This result comes from a survey conducted in November 2024 by Afrobarometer with 1,200 citizens, amid growing ties between Lomé and the three members of the AES.
More specifically, the survey shows that men are more in favor of this potential membership (57%) than women (50%).
The gap is also evident between urban areas (59%) and rural areas (49%). Regionally, support is particularly high in the Centrale (74%), Lomé Commune (64%), and the Savanes (60%).
Originally conceived as a military alliance between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the AES became a confederation in July 2024, a few months after its member countries collectively withdrew from ECOWAS.
As relations sour between the AES and some members of the historic regional organization, Togo is strengthening its ties with the new alliance.
Lomé Port has thus become a strategic transit hub for imports from Burkina Faso and Niger, to the detriment of the Port of Cotonou in Benin.
Moreover, in early 2025, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey publicly discussed the possibility of Togo joining the alliance.
"Togo is considering joining the AES, a strategic decision that could strengthen regional cooperation and provide access to the sea for the member countries," said the Togolese foreign minister last March.
This membership would indeed enhance Togo's role as a sub-regional hub, already played for both ECOWAS countries and the AES. However, this decision, which could further weaken ECOWAS, would put Lomé in an even more delicate situation with the other members of the historic regional organization.
For 37% of respondents in the Afrobarometer survey, the AES actually poses an obstacle to regional integration in West Africa. While waiting for an official decision, it is worth noting that Togo could theoretically join the AES while remaining a member of ECOWAS.
Source: Agence Ecofin
