Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Seek Moroccan Lifeline

On Monday, April 28, 2025, the foreign ministers of the military-ruled Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger said they endorse an initiative offering them access to global trade through Morocco’s Atlantic ports, according to Morocco’s state news agency.

The three Sahel nations, now united under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), have officially backed Morocco’s initiative to grant them access to global trade through its Atlantic ports. The announcement comes after their dramatic exit from ECOWAS earlier this year—a move that left them scrambling for economic alternatives.

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ECOWAS, once their regional economic lifeline, imposed trade restrictions after military coups swept through Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The juntas responded by forming AES, kicking out French forces, and cozying up to Russia for military support.

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Now, Morocco—an economic powerhouse in West Africa—is stepping in, offering a trade corridor that bypasses ECOWAS altogether. The major investor in West Africa’s financial and agricultural sectors announced its trade access initiative in November 2023.

The visit comes at a time when relations between the AES and Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival, deteriorate. Algeria has already cut ties with Rabat and backs the Polisario Front in Western Sahara. Speaking of Western Sahara, Morocco is pouring $1 billion into a new port there.

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The visit comes at a time when relations between the AES and Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival, deteriorate. Algeria has already cut ties with Rabat and backs the Polisario Front in Western Sahara. Speaking of Western Sahara, Morocco is pouring $1 billion into a new port there.