Togo is contemplating joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This membership could provide vital port access and facilitate military cooperation. Analysts suggest it may also serve as a strategic move amidst regional tensions and challenges with ECOWAS. Togo maintains a complex relationship with both alliances as it navigates its political landscape.
Togo is currently expressing interest in joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is composed of the junta-led nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey has intensified diplomatic efforts towards the AES, initially established as a defense pact in 2023 but now pursuing closer integration. He stated that Togo’s membership could significantly enhance regional cooperation and facilitate access to the sea for the landlocked member countries.
The need for access to a port is paramount for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as they are facing jihadist threats and have sought enhanced sovereignty through military control. Tensions with neighboring Ivory Coast and Benin, perceived as too aligned with Western interests, have led these countries to utilize Togo’s port in Lomé and Ghana’s port at Tema.
Analysts believe Togo’s potential membership could unlock new economic opportunities and foster military collaboration. Political analyst Madi Djabakate noted, “There’s the hope of economic solidarity: access to Nigerien oil, renewed trade routes.” He further emphasized that increased military cooperation and intelligence sharing with neighboring countries could be beneficial for Togo amid escalating jihadist activities.
The AES leaders have faced challenges in combating jihadist extremism despite their military coups from 2020 to 2023, with plans to establish a joint military force of 5,000 troops. Togo supports these efforts to reclaim sovereignty, moving away from reliance on former colonial power, France, and establishing ties with Russia and other countries.
Djabakate remarked, “By engaging with the AES, Togo is part of a pan-African narrative where nations, long divided, are learning to stand together.” Meanwhile, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé’s regime appears to favor this pan-Africanism, which resonates positively with popular opinion. The AES members have ignored calls for immediate elections, extending their political transition timelines significantly.
Djabakate also suggested that Togo’s shift towards the AES could serve as a diversion from internal challenges, especially regarding a new constitution that critics argue would allow Gnassingbé to maintain power indefinitely. Sociologist Francis Akindes noted a shared reluctance for political transition among AES members.
Opposition figure Nathaniel Olympio has cautioned against Togo’s potential departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), indicating that AES membership could insulate Togo from ECOWAS’s constraints on governance and civil liberties. Countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have previously exited ECOWAS, accusing it of being influenced by France and ineffectual against jihadism.
Seidik Abba, director of the International Center for Studies and Reflections on the Sahel, observed that Togo’s relationship with these military regimes has historically been cordial, even functioning as a mediator between ECOWAS and the AES countries. Djabakate argued that Togo could maintain dual membership in both organizations, stating, “Alliances aren’t marriages, but rather partnerships.” It remains committed to ECOWAS, noting that Lomé’s port is crucial for regional connectivity.
However, the implications of Togo’s engagement with the AES may jeopardize ECOWAS’s future. Abba warned that Togo’s alignment with the AES would further complications for ECOWAS and remarked, “In any case, it will worsen its already precarious situation.”
In summary, Togo’s interest in joining the Alliance of Sahel States signals a strategic shift towards enhanced regional cooperation, particularly in trade and military collaboration. Despite potential challenges with the Economic Community of West African States, Togo aims to navigate multiple alliances to secure its geopolitical interests. The evolving dynamics within the Sahel region will influence both Togo’s and ECOWAS’s political landscapes considerably.
Original Source: thedefensepost.com
