Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially formed a new confederation called the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, following their exit from the regional bloc.
This development signals a significant geopolitical shift away from their former colonial ruler, France, and towards closer ties with Russia.
According to AFP, the announcement came after a meeting of the three nations’ foreign ministers in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Sangare, confirmed the finalisation of the draft text for the new alliance.
Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, declared, “We can clearly say that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States has been born.”
The heads of state from the three countries will formally adopt the text at an upcoming summit, with the date yet to be announced.
Truthlive news recalled that the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc, established to promote economic integration, had struggled to address a series of military coups in the region. Mali experienced coups in 2020 and 2021, Burkina Faso in 2022, and Niger in 2023.
In January 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their exit from ECOWAS, criticizing the regional body for deviating from its founding ideals.
Sanctions against these countries were lifted in February 2024 after intervention by Nigeria’s former military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that these decisions were made to promote unity and security in the region.