Togo is considering joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprised of junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which seeks greater integration. This could provide crucial port access for these landlocked nations. Analysts suggest that Togo’s membership may enhance regional cooperation and economic solidarity, but concerns arise regarding its potential impact on relations with ECOWAS and internal governance issues.
Togo is expressing interest in joining an alliance comprising junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This new confederation, known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), was initially formed as a defense pact in 2023 and is now pursuing greater integration. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey hinted that Togo’s membership is a possibility, stating that it could enhance regional cooperation and provide vital port access to landlocked member nations.
The importance of port access cannot be overstated for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which are grappling with challenges resulting from jihadist activities. Their leaders, having gained power through military coups, promised to secure greater sovereignty, with tensions existing between these countries and neighboring Ivory Coast and Benin. As a result, they have increasingly relied on Togo’s port in Lomé and Ghana’s port in Tema for trade.
Analysts suggest that Togo’s inclusion in the AES could foster new trade routes and economic solidarity, particularly in accessing Nigerien oil, and facilitate military cooperation and intelligence sharing against escalating jihadist threats in northern Togo. The AES countries have struggled to combat jihadism since their respective coups between 2020 and 2023 and are planning to form a joint military force of 5,000 troops.
Togo appears supportive of the AES’s approach, which aims to reclaim sovereignty from Western influence. The shift of these countries away from France towards new alliances with countries like Russia reflects a broader pan-African agenda. Analysts have noted that Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé could maintain power indefinitely while endorsing pan-African ideals, a sentiment increasingly resonating with the populace.
Despite the warm reception for the AES, Togo’s leaders face domestic challenges. A controversial new constitution is under scrutiny for potentially allowing Gnassingbé to retain power indefinitely. Critics, including opposition leader Nathaniel Olympio, have expressed concern that Togo’s alignment with the AES could strain relations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Membership in the AES might shelter Togo from ECOWAS’s regulatory demands regarding the rule of law and public freedoms.
Togo has maintained positive relations with the AES states and has occasionally acted as a mediator between them and ECOWAS. Political analysts assert that Togo may successfully navigate dual membership in ECOWAS and the AES, given that alliances are flexible. However, joining the AES raises concerns about the future stability of ECOWAS, with some observers noting it could catalyze the bloc’s decline and exacerbate existing tensions in the region.
In summary, Togo’s potential membership in the Alliance of Sahel States highlights a strategic shift in West African geopolitics, emphasizing the quest for sovereignty and regional collaboration. While access to vital ports can enhance trade and security cooperation, the implications for Togo’s relationship with ECOWAS and domestic political dynamics remain contentious. Analysts warn that this move may accelerate ECOWAS’s challenges while presenting Togo with new opportunities for economic and military partnership.
Original Source: thedefensepost.com
