Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have finalized plans, to form a new confederation.
The Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), indicated a departure from their former colonial ruler, France, and a pivot towards closer relations with Russia.
The announcement came after a meeting of the three nations’ foreign ministers in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Friday, as reported by AFP.
Confirming the finalization of the draft text outlining the institutionalization and operationalization of the AES, Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Sangare.
Stated, “The objective was to finalize the draft text relating to the institutionalization and operationalization of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States.”
Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop declared, “We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States has been born.”
The Heads of State of the three countries are expected to formally adopt the text at an upcoming summit, although the exact date has not been specified.
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore also participated in the crucial talks.
This move marks a significant development in the region, particularly against the backdrop of challenges faced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the 15-nation bloc formed in 1975 to promote economic integration in member states.
ECOWAS has struggled in recent years to address a wave of military takeovers in the region, including in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger last year.
The three countries had previously considered forming a counterforce, the Alliance of Sahel States, against ECOWAS after the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Niger.
They officially announced their exit from ECOWAS on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
The decision to depart from ECOWAS was cited in a joint statement by the three countries, currently under military rule, who claimed that the regional body had allegedly “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.”
Sanctions imposed on the three nations were lifted in February 2024 following the intervention of Nigeria’s ex-military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, emphasized that these decisions were taken in the interest of unity and security in the African sub-region, signaling a complex and evolving landscape of regional alliances and partnerships.
