Faith Nyasuguta
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, three landlocked countries in West Africa , have agreed to a new trade partnership with Morocco to gain access to Atlantic Ocean trade routes. The deal, announced during a meeting in Rabat with King Mohammed VI, offers the countries a much-needed lifeline as they navigate growing isolation in the region.
The three nations, all governed by military juntas, left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2024. Their withdrawal followed increasing tensions with regional powers over sanctions, trade restrictions, and their shift away from Western alliances. Since forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the trio has strengthened military ties with Russia and expelled French troops, signaling a clear turn from their traditional allies.
Morocco’s proposal, first introduced in late 2023, involves opening up its Atlantic ports to allow Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to move goods in and out of global markets more easily. This development could reduce the AES bloc’s reliance on ECOWAS nations such as Benin and Cote d’Ivoire, through which most of their trade previously passed.
“This initiative contributes to diversifying our access to the sea,” said Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, speaking to local outlets. He emphasized that gaining access to Morocco’s ports could change how these landlocked nations connect to the rest of the world.
The Moroccan state news agency called the Rabat meeting a reflection of “strong and long-standing relations” between Morocco and the Sahel trio. Morocco is positioning itself not only as a trade partner but also as a political ally during a time of realignment in West Africa.
At the same time, tensions are rising between Morocco and Algeria, a longtime rival that supports the Polisario Front, which opposes Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara. Morocco, meanwhile, has ramped up investments in that disputed territory, where it is constructing a $1 billion port in Dakhla aimed at boosting maritime trade and expanding regional influence.
The new alliance also carries diplomatic weight. In December, Morocco helped secure the release of four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso, an act that followed France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The move likely strengthened ties between Rabat and the Sahel’s new military leadership.
With traditional regional alliances shifting and Morocco stepping up, the Sahel’s path to trade and stability may now run through Rabat. As economic pressures grow, this partnership could be a model for other landlocked nations seeking new trade corridors.
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