The military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have recently agreed to establish a confederation, signaling a shift away from their former colonial power, France, and towards closer ties with Russia.
The foreign ministers of the three countries met in Niger's capital, Niamey, to finalize the text that establishes the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Niger's Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, announced that the objective of the meeting was to finalize the draft text related to the institutionalization and operationalization of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). He also mentioned that the text would be officially adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at an upcoming summit, although the specific date was not disclosed.
After meeting with General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of the Nigerien military regime, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop expressed that it was evident that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) had been established.
The third foreign minister present at the meeting was Burkina Faso's Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore. The decision to form the confederation comes in the wake of ongoing deadly jihadist violence in the Sahel region, which the countries have criticized France for being unable to effectively address. Additionally, the three nations announced in late January their decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing French influence, and to establish their own regional grouping.
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