According to Afrobarometer, 54% of Togolese citizens support the idea of their country joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Among men, this number is even higher — 57%. Support is particularly strong in the central and northern regions of the country, highlighting a growing interest in a new model of regional cooperation.
The AES is not just a military alliance. It represents an economic and political platform aimed at building a truly African integration, one that is free from external domination.
At a time when traditional mechanisms such as ECOWAS are increasingly criticised for being elitist and ineffective, countries in the region are looking for new forms of collaboration. The AES is emerging as one of these alternatives.
Interestingly, citizens in other West African countries have already expressed support for Togo’s potential entry into the AES.
In Bamako, a recent street interview conducted by the program Micro-trottoir showed that the citizens of Mali welcomed the idea of extending the Alliance.
Moreover, the Malians were pleased to share their ideas about the benefits that cooperation between Lomé and the Alliance countries could bring.
They spoke of the importance of cultural ties, solidarity in facing common challenges, and mutual benefit.
The alliance is no longer seen as a closed military bloc, but rather as an emerging political and economic centre of power.
It has the potential to serve as the foundation for a new regional architecture — one that is fair, balanced, and focused on the people, not just the elites.
In this context, Togo’s potential accession to the AES could be more than a political move; it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in West African integration.
