AES: President Assimi GOÏTA convenes the Confederation’s defense ministers for a strategic consultation in Bamako
The President of the Transition of Mali, His Excellency General Assimi GOÏTA, who also serves as the current President of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), received the defense ministers of the member states in audience on Friday, June 20, 2025. This high-level meeting, held in Bamako, marks a crucial step in the strategic integration process of the AES area.
Gathered for a strategic consultation, the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger discussed shared priorities in defense and security. The meeting with the Malian Head of State provided an opportunity to review the progress of military cooperation and to harmonize approaches in the fight against terrorism, cross-border trafficking, and hybrid threats facing the region.
President Assimi GOÏTA commended the commitment of his counterparts and their defense ministers to building a sovereign, coherent, and resilient security architecture. He emphasized that the challenge goes beyond mere operational coordination: it is about establishing a common defense capable of ensuring the security of populations and safeguarding the achievements of regained sovereignty.
This meeting is part of the founding vision of the AES: the military, political, and economic integration of Sahel states around shared values—solidarity, self-determination, and dignity. It also reflects the determination to accelerate the establishment of joint structures, particularly the joint headquarters of the Confederation.
