In a landmark moment for the Sahel region, the military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to hold their first joint summit since their respective coups, indicating the trio’s determination to forge ahead with their alliance.
This summit, a significant step for the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), will take place in Niamey, Niger, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. Nigerien authorities announced this pivotal meeting on public radio, highlighting the growing importance of the AES.
Niger’s junta leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, will host Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traore and Mali’s Assimi Goita. The leaders are expected to arrive in Niamey on Friday, ahead of the summit. This meeting is strategically scheduled just before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) summit, underpinning the deepening divide between the three countries and the regional bloc.
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The formation of the AES marks a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of the Sahel. In January 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, citing dissatisfaction with the bloc’s handling of their political situations.
Despite repeated calls from ECOWAS members for them to rejoin, the three countries have remained resolute in their decision. They have instead turned their focus towards the AES, an economic and defense pact aimed at fostering closer ties and mutual support among the three nations.
In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Niamey to draft the text for the AES confederation, which the heads of state are expected to adopt at the upcoming summit. The AES seeks not only to strengthen economic and defense cooperation but also to establish a common currency, signaling a move towards deeper integration.
The ECOWAS President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has expressed his frustration over the situation. Speaking at the 92nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja, he lamented the lack of progress in reintegrating Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into the regional community.
“Despite our entreaties, in the form of softening of sanctions, invitation of the governments to technical meetings, and request for meetings, we have not yet gotten the right signals from these Member States,” Touray said.
Touray acknowledged the complex international changes affecting member states and proposed a Special Summit on the Future of the Community to address these challenges. He emphasized the need to rethink ECOWAS’s integration approach, governance, and relations with external partners.
The formation of the AES is now seen as unstoppable, with the three Sahelian countries committed to forging their path forward.
However, this development will have significant implications for ECOWAS. The regional bloc, long seen as a stabilizing force in West Africa, will need to adapt to the absence of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Critics have blamed ECOWAS for mishandling the situation earlier on by threatening military action against the countries following their coups, a move that arguably pushed them further away.
Against this backdrop, ECOWAS is expected to continue its mission without these key members. However, analysts have warned that the impact on regional stability, economic cooperation, and collective security efforts will be profound.
The AES, with its focus on economic and defense collaboration, represents a new chapter for the Sahel, but also a stark reminder of the complex dynamics and shifting alliances within West Africa.
The alliance has decided to jettison long-held ties with colonial master France, embracing a new partnership with Russia. This situation has created a new geopolitical order in the Sahel, with many expressing concern that it will have a broader impact.