More than half of Togolese citizens support joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) over remaining in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to an Afrobarometer survey conducted in November 2024. The nationally representative poll, which sampled 1,200 adults, found 53% in favor of AES alignment, with support higher among men (57%), urban residents (59%), and respondents in the Central Region (74%). Lomé Commune and Savanes also showed strong backing, at 64% and 60% respectively. In contrast, only 36% of respondents preferred staying with ECOWAS, with the rest undecided.
The survey reinforces statements made in early 2025 by Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, who signaled Togo’s growing interest in closer ties with AES—a regional bloc led by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following their suspension from ECOWAS after military takeovers.
Critics of ECOWAS accuse the bloc of political ineffectiveness and bias toward entrenched leadership, while supporters of AES emphasize mutual security and economic cooperation among Sahelian nations. Togo has deepened economic ties with AES members in recent months, notably by positioning Lomé’s port as the primary supply corridor for landlocked AES countries like Burkina Faso and Niger, signaling a tangible pivot in regional alignment.
This growing shift occurs amid rising tensions between ECOWAS and AES, suggesting that Togo could soon play a central role in reshaping West Africa’s geopolitical landscape.
