UN Hails ECOWAS-AES Talks as Milestone for West African Unity

By Raymond Enoch

The United Nations has thrown its weight behind fresh diplomatic overtures between ECOWAS and the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), calling their first formal consultations a bold step toward deeper regional unity.

In a letter dated 26 May, UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, congratulated ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray on the 22 May meeting in Bamako, Mali — the first of its kind between the two blocs.

Simão praised the talks as a powerful symbol of West Africa’s resolve to strengthen regional ties, coinciding with ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary. He urged all parties to seize the momentum to confront shared challenges like terrorism and economic instability.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Simão wrote, stressing the need for collective action to ensure peace, security, and prosperity across the region.