The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened on Friday in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to agree on a text that establishes the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
These countries, all currently governed by military juntas, have finalized their plans to form this confederation, moving away from their former colonial ruler, France, and instead seeking closer ties with Russia.
During the meeting, Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, stated that the main goal was to finalize the draft text that pertains to the institutionalization and operationalization of the AES.
He announced this in a final statement late on Friday. Sangare explained that this text would be adopted by the heads of state from the three countries at an upcoming summit, although he did not specify the exact date for this event.
After meeting with General Abdourahamane Tiani, the leader of Niger’s military regime, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop declared that the AES had effectively been established.
“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” Diop said. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, also participated in these important discussions.
For years, the Sahel region has suffered from deadly jihadist violence, and the three countries have accused France of failing to control this violence effectively.
This discontent has led to a significant shift in their foreign relations. In late January, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their decision to quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
They claimed that ECOWAS was heavily influenced by France and thus decided to create their own regional grouping.
This new confederation marks a significant geopolitical shift in the Sahel region, as these countries seek to establish a more autonomous and cooperative regional alliance, moving away from their historical ties with France and aligning more closely with Russia.
The formation of the AES is seen as a strategic move to address their security concerns more effectively and to establish a new political and economic order in the region.
