A recent Afrobarometer survey indicates that 54% of Togolese citizens support their country joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), potentially at the expense of their membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The survey, conducted in November 2024 among 1,200 Togolese, aligns with earlier suggestions by Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey regarding Togo’s potential entry into the AES.
The survey data reveals that support for joining the AES is higher among men (57%) than women (50%), and more prevalent in urban areas (59%) compared to rural areas (49%). Geographically, the Central region (74%), Lomé Commune (64%), and the Savanes region (60%) show the strongest support for AES membership.
Conversely, 36% of respondents prefer Togo to remain in ECOWAS, viewing the AES as a potential obstacle to regional integration in West Africa due to its foundation by coup regimes.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey’s public consideration of joining the AES in March sparked considerable debate both domestically and internationally.
This survey emerges amidst strained relations between the AES and some ECOWAS member states. Despite these tensions, Togo is strengthening its economic ties with the AES, particularly by positioning the port of Lomé as a key supply route for Burkina Faso and Niger
