(Niamey) The military regimes in power in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have ratified their alliance within a “confederation” during their first summit on Saturday in Niamey, a decision which confirms their break with the rest of the West African bloc.
The heads of state of the three countries, military men who came to power through putsches, “have decided to take a further step towards deeper integration between the member states,” they said in the final communiqué of the summit.
“To this end, they adopted the treaty establishing a confederation between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger called the Confederation of Sahel States (AES),” the text states.
The three AES countries announced in January their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organisation which they consider to be exploited by France, the former colonial power with which they have repeatedly broken ties.
PHOTO ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Burkinabe Captain Ibrahim Traoré salutes the honor guard upon his arrival in Niamey, July 5, 2024.
The creation of this confederation confirms this divorce.
“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” declared General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the Niger military regime, at the opening of the summit.
ESA-ECOWAS relations deteriorated significantly following the July 26, 2023 coup that brought General Tiani to power.
ECOWAS then imposed heavy economic sanctions against Niger and threatened to intervene militarily to restore the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, to his functions.
Sanctions were since lifted in February, but relations between the two sides remain frosty.
ECOWAS is due to hold a summit of its heads of state in Abuja on Sunday, where the issue of relations with the AES will be on the agenda for discussions.
The ESA countries formed a joint force in March to fight jihadists who regularly attack their territories.
On Saturday, they also wanted to “pool their resources” in sectors deemed strategic such as agriculture, water, energy and transport.
They also called for more use of local languages in public and private media in their countries.