A freshly signed contract between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has been praised as a step “towards greater integration” between the three countries.Read More
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ToggleConfederation of Sahel States AES treaty
This is the latest demonstration of the military commanders of these countries moving away from their old regional and Western friends.
A new “confederation” was formed on Saturday by the military chiefs who rule Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. They signed a pact during their inaugural meeting in Niamey, which took place after they cut their connections with an existing West African bloc.
They “decided to take a step further towards greater integration between the member states” and “adopted a treaty establishing a confederation,” according to a statement that was released after the summit that took place on Saturday.
The leaders of the state of the three countries, who have taken power through coups in recent years, made this decision.
A total of approximately 72 million people will be grouped under the “Confederation of Sahel States,” which will be abbreviated as AES.
Withdrawing from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
In January, the three nations announced that they would be withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organization that they said was being dominated by France, the country that had ruled them throughout their colonial era.
All three nations have severed their military and defense ties with France to increase their level of cooperation with Russia.
“Our people have irrevocably turned their back on ECOWAS,” declared General Abdourahamane Tiani, the president of Niger’s military government, as he started the conference. ” Our people have abandoned ECOWAS.”
After a coup in July 2023 that brought Tiani to office, relations between ECOWAS deteriorated. At that time, ECOWAS imposed sanctions and even threatened to act militarily to reinstall Mohamed Bazoum, the president who had been removed from power.
Although the sanctions were withdrawn in February, relations between the two parties continue to be deteriorating.
ECOWAS deteriorating relations
The issue of relations with AES will be discussed at the leaders’ meeting that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is convening on Sunday in Abuja.
The countries that make up the AES came together in March to form a combined military force to confront the terrorist groups that target their area regularly.
On Saturday, they also discussed the possibility of “mutualizing” their approach to areas of strategic importance, including agriculture, water, energy, and transportation.
In addition to this, they requested that indigenous languages be given a more prominent role in the media in the area.
Traore, the president of Burkina Faso, also accused during the conference that foreign powers were attempting to exploit the countries.
In the past, the three countries have frequently accused France, a former colonial master, of interfering in the affairs of ECOWAS.
we are not your property
Westerners believe that we are their property and that they are also the owners of our money. According to what he said, “They believe that they are the ones who are obligated to continue to tell us what is beneficial for our states.”
“This era is no longer in existence. All of our resources will continue to be available to us and our population.
An attack on one of us will be an attack on all of the other members, according to Goita, who represents Mali. He stated that this is because the relationship is being strengthened.
Around three million individuals have been forced to flee their homes as a result of war in several nations.
