The landlocked nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are seeking further option to access the sea by partnering with the Kingdom of Morocco. An announcement on the development was made during a meeting with King Mohammed VI in Rabat, according to the Moroccan state news agency, which revealed that the three countries have supported a Moroccan initiative to provide them with access to the Atlantic trade route.
 
This marks a significant shift in the geopolitical and economic landscape of West Africa, as sea access to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) nations had remained elusive since their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
 
The Moroccan initiative, announced in November 2023, provides access to Morocco’s Atlantic ports for trade. This strategic move strengthens Morocco’s regional influence while promoting economic development in the Sahel region. Such partnership has the potential to offset the economic impact of the ECOWAS exit for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
 
“Morocco’s initiative is conducive to diversifying our access to the sea,” Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, told state media. The development comes as the three AES nations look to reduce their dependence on ECOWAS border States such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
 
The Moroccan news agency described the Rabat meeting as part of the kingdom’s “strong and long-standing relations with the three brotherly countries of the Sahel Alliance.”

The support comes during rising tensions between the AES bloc and Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival. The AES has been distancing itself from Western partners, expelling French forces, and deepening military cooperation with Russia.

Meanwhile, tensions between the AES bloc and Algeria have escalated, with Algeria cutting diplomatic ties with Morocco and backing the Polisario Front’s bid for independence in Western Sahara, a territory claimed by the Kingdom of Morocco.
 
Morocco has invested heavily in the region, including a $1 billion port project in Dakhla, Western Sahara, to develop maritime infrastructure. The kingdom has also mediated the release of four French citizens imprisoned in Burkina Faso, following France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.