In order to address shared challenges, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have approved plans to form a federation that would bring together the three West African countries that are currently ruled by their respective militaries.
The decision was made after a two-day meeting in Bamako, Mali, which concentrated on plans to create the new Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The announcement was made in a joint statement that was posted on social media site X on Sunday.
In September, the three former French colonies’ military rulers signed the AES charter, promising to support one another in the event of external aggression or internal challenges to their sovereignty. The states, along with Chad and Mauritania, were previously part of the G5 Sahel agreement, which was backed by Paris. Since then, the G5 accord has collapsed as a result of multiple military takeovers in the area.
During their first meeting, which took place on Thursday and Friday, the foreign ministers of the three Sahelian countries decided on “appropriate measures,” which included procedures for putting the AES agreement into effect.
The joint statement stated that “the Ministers recommended encouraging the participation of elected representatives, women, young people, and civil society in AES initiatives.” They also emphasised how crucial defence and diplomacy are to advancing their political and economic integration.
