AES / A step closer to making the Alliance of Sahel States a reality: Ministers work on a Confederation Treaty in Ouagadougou

In a decisive move towards solidifying the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), ministers from the three member countries convened today in Ouagadougou to work on drafting a treaty for the establishment of a Confederation comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

This meeting follows a three-day preparatory session where experts from the three countries actively collaborated from Monday to Wednesday.

The primary objective of this gathering is to reassess the Charter of the Alliance of Sahel States and draft a treaty formalizing the creation of a Confederation among the three nations.

This meeting holds particular significance given the current political context, marked by the historic decision of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to promptly withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This decision underscores the commitment of the three countries to deepen their regional cooperation within the Alliance of Sahel States.

Chaired by the three delegation leaders – General Kassoum Coulibaly, Minister of State, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs of Burkina Faso; Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization of Mali; and General Salifou Modi, Minister of National Defense of Niger – this meeting reflects the shared determination to strengthen ties among the three nations.

It is worth recalling that the Alliance of Sahel States was officially established on September 16, 2023, with the signing of the Liptako-Gourma Charter by the three presidents of the member countries.

Since then, the Alliance has actively worked to enhance cooperation in areas such as security, economic development, and natural resource management.

The Ouagadougou meeting marks a significant step in realizing the objectives of the Alliance of Sahel States, laying the groundwork for even closer cooperation and deeper regional integration between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Cedric KABORE