Togo is contemplating the possibility of joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), with Foreign Minister Robert Dussey revealing the country’s openness to the idea during an interview with Voxafrica on Thursday.

Minister Dussey emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with President Faure Gnassingbé but noted that joining the AES is “not impossible.” He also suggested that public opinion in Togo would likely be supportive of such a move, inviting citizens to express their views on the matter.
Togo’s potential membership could significantly benefit both the country and the AES. The addition of Togo, a coastal nation with the vital port of Lomé, would provide the landlocked AES member states—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—direct access to the sea, enhancing their ability to import and export goods more efficiently.

The AES, currently composed of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has seen growing tensions with France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as these countries’ military governments have made moves to distance themselves from their former colonial power and its regional influence. Their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS has led to speculation that Togo’s inclusion in the alliance could shift the dynamics of West African geopolitics.