Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, three West African nations currently under military rule, have signed a confederation treaty, marking a significant shift in regional alliances and a rejection of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The treaty was signed during the first summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), signaling a closer alignment between these countries amidst ongoing insurgencies in the central Sahel region.
Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, described the summit as “the culmination of our determined common will to reclaim our national sovereignty,” highlighting their intent to forge a new path independent of external influence. The formation of the AES confederation confirms the trio’s departure from the 15-member ECOWAS, which has been urging a return to democratic rule following a series of coups between 2020 and 2023.
“Our peoples have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” Tiani declared, emphasizing the goal of creating “a community free from the control of foreign powers.” This move is seen as a response to ECOWAS’s sanctions and threats to use force to restore constitutional rule in Niger last year.
The AES summit took place a day before an ECOWAS summit, which aimed to persuade Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to reconsider their decision to leave the bloc. The confederation’s formation underscores their resolve to establish a unified front, distinct from the regional economic bloc.
While the specifics of how the AES will harmonize political, economic, and defense policies remain unclear, the three countries have already made strides in security collaboration. In March, they agreed to set up a joint force to address security threats across their territories. Additionally, finance ministers from these states have discussed the possibility of establishing a monetary union and have shown varying levels of support for abandoning the West African CFA franc currency.
The split from ECOWAS, a 50-year-old alliance, threatens to unravel decades of regional integration and disrupt trade and services flows valued at nearly $150 billion annually. The falling-out is rooted in ECOWAS’s response to the coups, including stringent sanctions and threats of force, which Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso view as a failure to support them against Islamist insurgencies that have caused significant casualties and displacement.
In recent years, the juntas have shifted their international alliances, fostering closer ties with Russia and distancing themselves from traditional partners like France, Nigeria, and the United States. This realignment reflects a broader geopolitical shift in the central Sahel, reshaping international influence in the region.
The AES confederation represents a bold move by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to assert their sovereignty and pursue a collective strategy in addressing security and economic challenges, independent of ECOWAS and Western powers.
