Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Dakar for Critical ECOWAS-AES Engagement

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is currently in Dakar, Senegal, leading Nigeria’s delegation to the first round of discussions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

A statement from his Media Office made available to Our Correspondent in Lokoja on Saturday indicates that the high-level meeting, which commenced on Friday, 16 October 2026, marks a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore regional cohesion and preserve the gains of regional integration.

The statement reads “The primary objective of this first round of discussions is to prepare and align the strategic positions of ECOWAS member States and facilitate targeted and structured talks with the AES, at both the Ministerial and technical levels, to address shared regional issues comprehensively.

“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, ahead of the forthcoming end of the year Summit in Abuja in December 2026.

“Nigeria, as a key founding member of ECOWAS, remains committed to the principles of regional integration, peace, and security. 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.