The Alliance of Sahel States is moving forward with its plans for regional autonomy, as military leaders from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso hold high-level talks in Bamako. The second edition of the AES summit aims to strengthen cooperation among member states and reduce reliance on the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.

The summit focuses on key areas such as defense and security, development, communication, and counterterrorism efforts across the three states. President of Mali Assimi Goïta and Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani met on Monday, while Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré joined the summit on Tuesday after an unexpected delay.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formed the alliance in 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS last year, following fallout with Western partners after military coups. Ahead of the summit, the three states officially announced the creation of a joint military force to fight terrorism in the region. The leaders also launched the Alliance of Sahel States TV broadcaster, aimed at countering disinformation and promoting the bloc’s interests.

The AES is expected to name a new head this week, after Goïta was appointed president of the alliance at last year’s summit. Despite their withdrawal from ECOWAS, the three countries remain open to benefiting from certain bloc privileges, including trade. However, they have taken steps to assert autonomy by introducing their own travel documents for citizens.

The three countries are still members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which guarantees continued trade and free movement of goods among its eight members. The development comes as the region continues to navigate complex security and economic challenges. The Alliance of Sahel States’ push for autonomy reflects the evolving landscape of regional cooperation in West Africa, with implications for trade, security, and governance.

The introduction of a joint military force and a regional TV broadcaster demonstrates the alliance’s commitment to addressing shared challenges and promoting its interests. As the AES continues to take shape, its relationship with ECOWAS and other regional organizations will be closely watched. With the summit concluding this week, the next steps for the Alliance of Sahel States will be closely monitored by regional and international observers.