Sahel Alliance leaders meet in Bamako for talks

The Alliance of Sahel States is advancing its regional autonomy agenda as military leaders from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso hold high‑level talks in Bamako. The second edition of the AES summit seeks to deepen cooperation among member states and lessen dependence on the West African regional bloc ECOWAS. Key topics include defense and security, development, communication and counter‑terrorism across the three countries.

Mali’s President Assimi Goïta and Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani met on Monday, while Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré joined the summit on Tuesday after an unexpected delay. The three nations formed the alliance in 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS last year following fallout with Western partners after military coups. Ahead of the summit, they officially announced the creation of a joint military force to combat terrorism in the region and launched the Alliance of Sahel States TV broadcaster to counter disinformation and promote 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. Although they have left ECOWAS, the three countries remain open to benefiting from certain bloc privileges, including trade. They are also asserting autonomy by introducing their own travel documents for citizens. All three remain members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which guarantees continued trade and free movement of goods among its eight members.

These developments occur as the region grapples with complex security and economic challenges. The Alliance of Sahel States’ push for autonomy reflects a shifting landscape of regional cooperation in West Africa, with implications for trade, security and governance. The joint military force and regional TV broadcaster demonstrate the alliance’s commitment to addressing shared challenges and promoting its interests. As the AES takes shape, its relationship with ECOWAS and other regional organizations will be closely watched, and the next steps will be monitored by regional and international observers.