In a significant development, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger gathered in Bamako for a two-day summit on December 1, proposing the creation of a confederation as part of a broader strategy to unite the West African neighbors within a federation.
The top diplomats, representing the Alliance of Sahel States, deliberated on the details of this new alliance, underscoring the pivotal role of diplomacy, defense, and development in “consolidating political and economic integration.”
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop highlighted that the recommendations arising from these discussions will be presented to each head of state during a forthcoming meeting in Bamako, the date of which is yet to be specified.
Building on this momentum, the countries’ economy and finance ministers, who convened in late November, suggested the establishment of a stabilisation fund, an investment bank, and a committee tasked with studying an economic and monetary union.
This diplomatic initiative follows a mutual defense pact signed by the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in mid-September, as outlined in the Liptako-Gourma Charter.
The charter, named after the historical region, laid the foundation for the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a collective commitment to regional stability and cooperation.
