Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Set Up Confederation Post-ECOWAS Exit

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all currently governed by military juntas, are in the process of forming a new regional confederation known as the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This move follows their collective withdrawal from The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the countries citing ECOWAS's perceived French influence and a departure from its pan-African ideals as reasons for their departure.

Foreign ministers from the three nations met in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to agree on the text that will lay the foundation for the AES. Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare read the final statement, indicating that the heads of state will formally adopt the document at an upcoming summit, though the date of this summit has not been specified.

The creation of the AES signifies a shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region, as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger seek closer ties with Russia and distance themselves from their former colonial power, France. The Sahel region, which the three countries are part of, has been experiencing significant jihadist violence for years, and this new alliance aims to address these security concerns independently of traditional Western allies.