Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have cemented plans to establish a regional confederation, marking a significant geopolitical shift away from their former colonial power, France, in favor of closer ties with Russia.
The foreign ministers of the three junta-led nations convened in Niamey on Friday to finalize the founding document for the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop affirmed the creation of the AES following discussions with General Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of Niger’s military regime, declaring, “We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born.”
Also present at the pivotal meeting was Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore.
The alliance comes in the wake of ongoing jihadist violence in the Sahel, which the nations criticized France for failing to control.
In a move signaling their new strategic direction, the three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January, citing undue French influence and the intent to form their regional bloc.
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