Formation of the Alliance of Sahel States: A New Chapter in West African Geopolitics

The formal announcement came after a meeting between the foreign ministers of the three countries in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Friday, as reported by AFP.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have completed the process to establish a new confederation, named the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, signaling a significant change in regional dynamics.

This development indicates a shift away from their historical ties with France and towards strengthened relations with Russia.

The formal announcement came after a meeting between the foreign ministers of the three countries in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Friday, as reported by AFP.

Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Sangare, confirmed the completion of the draft document that defines the structure and function of the AES.

"The aim was to complete the draft document concerning the structure and function of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States," Sangare stated.

"Today, we can assert with certainty that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States is established," announced Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.

The Heads of State from the three nations are set to officially endorse the document at a forthcoming summit, though the precise date is yet to be determined.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore was also present at these pivotal discussions.

The ECOWAS, a 15-nation bloc recognized as the leading political and regional authority in West Africa, established in 1975 to foster economic integration among its members, has faced challenges in recent times, notably in countering a series of military coups in the region, including those in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger the previous year.

Regrettably, on Sunday, January 28, 2024, the trio, which had contemplated forming the Alliance of Sahel States as a counterbalance to the regional bloc following the coup in Niger, declared their departure from ECOWAS.

Under military governance, the three nations jointly announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, accusing the regional organization of deviating from the principles of its founders and the spirit of pan-Africanism.

Nonetheless, sanctions were lifted in February 2024 after the mediation by Nigeria’s former military leader, Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, affirmed that these decisions were made to promote unity and security within the African sub-region.

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