Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali Form New Alliance After Exiting ECOWAS

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have concluded plans to form a new alliance, the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, marking a geopolitical shift in the region.

This move revealed their departure from their former colonial ruler, France, and a turn towards closer relations with Russia.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the three nations’ foreign ministers in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Friday.

Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Sangare, confirmed the finalisation of the draft text that outlines the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the AES.

“The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States,” Sangare said.

“We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States has been born,” declared Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.

The Heads of State of the three countries will formally adopt the text at an upcoming summit, although the exact date has not been announced.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore was also involved in the crucial talks.