AES Confederation: A strategic agricultural forum to build food sovereignty in the Sahel
In September, Bamako will host a historic forum dedicated to agricultural development within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). This joint initiative by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger reflects the vision of national reconstruction and regional sovereignty championed by the heads of state. In a context marked by security, climate, and geopolitical challenges, the forum is not just about agriculture—it aims to lay the foundations for an endogenous economic model, free from external dependencies.
Far more than a technical meeting, the forum represents a strong political statement, bringing together public and private actors, farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural innovators. In the Sahel, where food self-sufficiency remains a pressing goal, AES member states are determined to transform their agri-food systems into pillars of resilience, stability, and prosperity. With 80% of Niger’s workforce in agriculture, Mali producing over 10.4 million tons of cereals in 2024, and Burkina Faso strengthening its export sectors such as cotton, the objective is clear: to feed the Sahelian people with Sahelian resources.
Every initiative under this framework contributes to reclaiming collective dignity. Regional integration—already embodied by the joint force, common passport, and AES Investment Bank—finds a strategic extension in the vital field of agriculture.
Expected outcomes include reduced food imports, creation of rural jobs, promotion of local expertise, development of agro-pastoral infrastructure, and improved management of land and water. Through APSA-Sahel for local seed production and by hosting this forum on their own soil, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, General Assimi Goïta, and General Abdourahamane Tiani signal a decisive strategic break.
Their message is clear: Pan-Africanism, active patriotism, work promotion, social justice, and economic independence. Farmers, rural youth, women entrepreneurs, researchers, and herders are all called to take part in this reconstruction. The Bamako forum is a call to engagement, responsibility, and hope—heralding a new era where our lands feed our people, policies meet our needs, and our future is in our hands.
