AES: Bamako hosts the first Alliance States Games
From June 21 to 28, 2025, Bamako will host a major event for Sahelian youth: the very first Games of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This ambitious initiative, driven by the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, aims to strengthen ties among the youth of the three member countries through sports—a powerful vehicle for unity and integration.
The competitions will be held at some of Bamako’s most iconic venues: the 26-March Stadium, the Mamadou-KONATÉ Stadium, and the Bamako Sports Palace. These locations will host the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the various sporting events selected for this inaugural edition.
More than just a sporting event, the AES Games embody a political will to build a united, resilient Sahelian space focused on the future. Sports here serve as a catalyst for social cohesion, civic engagement, and the promotion of patriotic values among young people—the fundamental pillar of the emerging Confederation.
In a regional context marked by security challenges and attempts at international isolation, this initiative reflects a dynamic of collective resilience. It also reaffirms the cultural, human, and political vocation of the AES, far beyond its institutional framework.
The AES Games stand as a shining example of this spirit, and Bamako is poised to write the first chapter of this historic endeavor.
