The Confederation of Sahel States (AES), a coalition comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has reaffirmed its commitment to defend its territories and sovereignty against perceived neo-colonial threats. The declaration made on 22 December 2024 follows the formal withdrawal of the three nations from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year and the establishment of the AES in July.
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In a joint statement issued by the College of Heads of State of the AES, the leaders—Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Army General Assimi Goïta of Mali, and Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger—criticised ECOWAS for what they described as unilateral decisions and interference. The AES leaders expressed dismay over ECOWAS’s recent six-month extension of their withdrawal timeline, deeming it an illegitimate and destabilising move.
The AES has announced a unified defense strategy, declaring the confederation a single military operation zone. This approach aims to counter rising threats, including alleged foreign-backed efforts to reorganise terrorist groups in the Sahel region. The statement claims that these groups are receiving financial and logistical support from external actors seeking to destabilise the confederation.
The AES has placed its defense and security forces on maximum alert and called on citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. The confederation has also urged its people to reject any collaboration with terrorist organisations.
“The College of Heads of State notes with regret that within ECOWAS, destabilisation maneuvers are regularly initiated by a handful of Heads of State who impose their desires and foreign agendas on the rest of the organisation,” the leaders said. “These actions clearly prove that the security issue which is being successfully addressed by AES countries in the sub-region, and which benefits the whole region, is not a real concern for these actors working for a desperate master.”
The statement pointed to alleged maneuvers by France, accusing it of pursuing neo-colonial ambitions under the guise of closing military bases in the region. According to the AES, such actions are part of a broader strategy to undermine the sovereignty of Sahel states.
The AES leadership reiterated their resolve to uphold the dignity and freedom of their people. “The struggle for true sovereignty and dignity of our people will continue with determination,” the statement emphasised.
There are growing tensions within West Africa as regional blocs navigate competing visions for governance, security, and independence. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé were appointed envoys to calm nerves, but their job obviously had no effect. The AES’s firm stance signals a significant shift in the region’s political landscape, with implications for both intra-African relations and international engagement in the Sahel.
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