In a significant geopolitical shift, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced the creation of a new confederation following their first summit in Niamey on Saturday.
This move comes after the countries severed ties with the West African bloc ECOWAS.
The leaders, who each assumed power through coups in recent years, declared their intention to foster greater integration among their nations.
The newly formed “Confederation of Sahel States,” abbreviated as AES, will encompass approximately 72 million people.
In January, the three countries announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accusing the organization of being unduly influenced by France, their former colonial power.
Consequently, they have also terminated their military and defense agreements with France, opting instead to enhance cooperation with Russia.
“Our people have irrevocably turned their back on ECOWAS,” proclaimed General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s military government, during the summit’s opening.
Tensions between ECOWAS and Niger escalated following the July 2023 coup that brought Tiani to power, leading ECOWAS to impose sanctions and threaten military intervention to reinstate the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. Although sanctions were lifted in February, relations remain strained.
ECOWAS is scheduled to hold a summit in Abuja on Sunday, with discussions on the AES relationship expected to be a key agenda item.
In March, the AES countries established a joint military force to combat jihadist groups targeting their regions. During Saturday’s summit, leaders also discussed strategies for collaboration in critical sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and transport. Additionally, they called for increased use of indigenous languages in local media.
