The military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on Saturday signed a historic treaty to establish a new political alliance named the “Confederation of Sahel States” during their first summit in Niamey.
This move marks a significant shift in regional politics, as the three countries had previously severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s military government, officially opened the summit by stating, “Our people have irrevocably turned their back on ECOWAS.” This sentiment reflects the growing rift between the Sahelian states and the regional bloc, which had been exacerbated by a series of political upheavals in recent years.
The three countries, which came to power through military coups, had announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the organization of being under the influence of France, their former colonial ruler. In addition to leaving ECOWAS, they have severed military and defense ties with France and sought closer cooperation with Russia.
The new AES confederation aims to foster deeper integration among its member states, which together represent a population of approximately 72 million people. In a joint statement at the end of the summit, the leaders declared their commitment to “take a step further towards greater integration between the member states” and officially adopted a treaty to establish the AES.
As part of their agenda, the AES leaders discussed creating a unified approach to key sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and transportation. They also advocated for the increased use of indigenous languages in local media. In March 2024, the AES countries had already formed a joint military force to tackle the jihadist threats affecting the region.
The summit’s timing is particularly significant as ECOWAS is scheduled to hold a leaders’ summit in Abuja on Sunday, where the future of relations between ECOWAS and the new AES confederation will be a central topic. Relations between ECOWAS and the three Sahelian countries had soured after a July 2023 coup in Niger, which saw Tiani’s rise to power and triggered a series of sanctions and military threats from ECOWAS aimed at restoring the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. Although these sanctions were lifted in February 2024, tensions between the two sides remain high.
The establishment of the AES reflects a broader geopolitical realignment in West Africa, as the member states seek to enhance regional cooperation independent of traditional Western influence.
