Leaders of the AES countries: Col. Assimi Goita of Mali (L), Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger (C), and Capt. Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso (R).
Efforts to bring back Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) union may have suffered a setback with the signing of a treaty on the creation of a confederation by military leaders of the three states at the first Joint Summit of the Alliance of Sahel States/ Alliance des Etats du Sahel (AES), now to also be known as the Confederation of Sahel States (CES).
According to statements by state officials at the event, the primary objective of the Summit was to adopt a draft document for the creation of an AES confederation.
The summit was chaired by Niger’s leader, Abdurahmane Tiani. Presidents Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso and Assimi Goita of Mali were also in attendance.
While addressing the Summit, General Tiani stated that the people of his country, along with those of Mali and Burkina Faso, have “irrevocably turned their backs” on the West African bloc, ECOWAS.
Following the signing, the Presidency of Mali released a copy of the charter, referred to as the Niamey Declaration. Some of the key points included the creation of an AES investment bank and a stabilisation fund for member countries. Alliance leaders also agreed to “pool resources” in strategic sectors such as agriculture, water, energy and transport. They call for greater use of local languages in their countries’ public and private media.
Mali will assume the presidency of the Confederation for one year, while Burkina Faso will host the first parliamentary committee. These measures mark a significant step towards strengthened regional integration and sustained economic development.
Speaking on the charter, Mali’s military leader, Col. Assimi Goïta said; “On this historic day for our people, I am delighted with the signing, with my brothers from Burkina and Niger, of the texts relating to the operationalisation and creation of the AES Confederation. I am honoured that Mali has been chosen to hold the Presidency.”
The signing of this charter represents a major blow to efforts by leaders of ECOWAS member-states to win back the three states into the regional body after they had pulled out in protest against harsh sanctions by the organisation against their military coup d’états.
A few days after the Joint Summit in Niamey, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s has been re-elected the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS for another one year term during the 65th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
It is not certain if Tinubu’s re-election would have any significant impact on talks to bring back the three states into the regional body, as several political commentators have attributed the current regional diplomatic impasse to his uncompromising stance against the military juntas when he was appointed chairman.
There are hopes, however, that greater effort would be put into bringing the Sahel states back into ECOWAS.
Temp mail This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.