Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, now under junta rule, have finalized plans to form a confederation after distancing themselves from their former colonial ruler, France, in favour of closer ties with Russia.
Their foreign ministers convened on Friday in Niger’s capital, Niamey, to agree on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, read the final statement late Friday, stating that the objective was to finalize the draft text related to the institutionalization and operationalization of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
He mentioned that the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date.
“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” said Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop after meeting with General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s military regime.
The third foreign minister present at the meeting was Burkina Faso’s Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore.
The Sahel region has experienced deadly jihadist violence for years, which they accused France of failing to curb.
In late January, the three countries announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing French influence, to form their own regional grouping.
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