Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko made his first visit to Mali since taking office in March 2024. This visit is part of Senegal’s diplomatic push to reintegrate Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after the countries left the regional bloc following military takeovers.
Sonko’s meeting with Mali’s interim president, Colonel Assimi Goita, emphasized the need for West African nations to overcome their differences and rebuild a united regional entity. Sonko envisioned a “Malian empire” connecting Mali with Senegal, Ghana, and beyond.
In January, the juntas of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso criticized ECOWAS for imposing what they called “illegitimate, inhumane, and irresponsible” sanctions instead of supporting their fight against security threats. ECOWAS has been applying pressure through sanctions and rejecting extended transition periods to restore civilian rule.
This situation marks the first time in nearly 50 years that ECOWAS members have withdrawn in such a manner. The three nations have since formed their own alliance, The Alliance of Sahel States. Senegalese President Basirou Diomaye Faye, who also visited Mali in May, faces the challenge of reuniting the fractured regional bloc.