Ousmane Sonko, the Senegalese prime minister, visits Mali in efforts at reconciliation with ECOWAS

Since his political party came to power in the March 2024 presidential elections, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko paid his first trip to Mali. Senegal’s diplomatic efforts to persuade Mali, now under military control, to rejoin to the 15-nation regional bloc known as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had the visit as part of them.

Following military takeovers that sour their ties with other West African countries, Mali left ECOWAS together with Niger and Burkina Faso. These nations leaving the bloc represents the first time in almost 50-year ECOWAS existence that members have left in this way.

Sonko underlined in a meeting with Colonel Assimi Goita, the temporary president of Mali, the need of West African countries overcoming their differences and striving to rebuild “a Malian empire that stretched from here to Senegal, Ghana, and everywhere in between.” Sonko’s comments capture a vision of regional togetherness and collaboration notwithstanding the most recent political turmoil.

Following the coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, the juntas of those nations denounced ECOWAS for imposing “illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible” sanctions in January. The military chiefs claimed that ECOWAS chose to punish them as they tried to take charge of their destinies rather than helping them to handle security concerns.

Applying pressure on the military governments by sanctions and rejecting proposed longer transitional schedules by the juntas, ECOWAS has been at the forefront of attempts to restore civilian authority in these coup-affected nations.

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Reacting to their sour relationship with ECOWAS, the three countries have created an alternative union called The Alliance of Sahel States, therefore indicating a change in regional alignments.

President Basirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, who also visited Mali in May, has a difficult job of bringing together a split regional alliance. Senegal’s continuous diplomatic initiatives highlight the need of regional stability as well as the difficulties in reaching enduring peace and collaboration in West Africa.