Presidents of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso Formalize Their Alliance of Sahelian States

Malian President Assimi Goita (L), Abdourrahmane Tiani Nigerian president, and the president of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traoré (R). Photo: X/ @ZIGUIMAMADOU5

July 6, 2024 Hour: 3:32 pm

The presidents of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso adopted on Saturday the treaty to formalize the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a coalition they announced last September before their exit en bloc from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

At the opening of the summit, held in Niamey, Niger capital, the president of that country, General Abdourahamane Tiani pointed out that this is a “solemn and historic” event that consolidates ties between the countries of the Sahel, and stressed that it is the result of his will to “reconquer” its sovereignty and restore its “legendary dignity,” says the Nigerian News Agency (ANP).

Tiani says the strength of the confederation is based on the capacity of the three countries “to build interconnection infrastructures (roads, airlines, railway networks…) as well as structural projects in the fields of agri-food, extractive industries and energy”.

#Sommet dès chefs d'états de L'AES ????????????????????????
Le président Malien Assimi Goita nommée président de l'Alliance des Etats du Sahel pour un mandat d'un an . pic.twitter.com/iPToBPifvv
— ZIGUI MAMADOU (@ZIGUIMAMADOU5) July 6, 2024

“Summit from AES Heads of State: President Malian Assimi Goita appointed President of the Alliance of Sahel States for a one-year term.“

The Burkinabe president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, stressed that this is a “unique and memorable” date and affirmed that the people of the Sahel “have decided to rebel and take control of their destiny” against the imperialists countries.

This alliance contains a mutual defence pact to fight the jihadist groups present in the area after their departure from the Western countries, which provided them with military assistance against terrorism, and from their neighbours in the West African bloc, which threatened military intervention after the coup in Niger almost a year ago.

The three countries seek other international allies like Russia, after Nigeria has expelled from the country the French troops that “fought” there against terrorism, while the US and German forces plan to do so this summer.