At the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mali’s Prime Minister, General Abdoulaye Maïga, delivered a forceful address on behalf of the heads of state of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), composed of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The speech highlighted the group’s commitment to combating terrorism, defending sovereignty, and pursuing regional development.
“The Defence and Security Forces of the three countries of the AES Confederation are working closely, in an unprecedented spirit of collaboration and complementarity, and are driven by a common commitment and pooling of efforts, to stem the scourge of terrorism,” Maïga told the assembly, underscoring the cooperative approach of the confederation.
The Malian Prime Minister criticized the support of certain foreign states, including the Ukrainian regime and France, for terrorist groups operating in the Sahel. “This is part of a maneuver to focus the attention of the international community on the war in Ukraine, while sponsoring terrorist groups operating in the Sahel,” he said, calling for reformed multilateral engagement that prioritizes justice and human security.
On human rights, Maïga announced that the AES heads of state had withdrawn from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, opting instead to prioritize endogenous justice mechanisms aligned with societal values and the interests of the AES populations. He condemned what he described as “the double standard observed by certain international actors, whose cursor shifts according to their interests.”
Mali also condemned actions by the Algerian “junta,” including a recent attack on Malian forces near the border and the downing of a Malian drone. “We call on Algiers to cease supporting international terrorism and to become resolutely involved in promoting peace and security, in a constructive spirit, while respecting the sovereignty of States,” Maïga said.
The Prime Minister emphasized economic and social development within the AES, pointing to strategic investments in infrastructure, energy, industrialization, and economic diversification, alongside the creation of a confederal investment bank.
Concluding his address, Maïga called for renewed multilateralism that respects the law and human rights. “The AES Confederation remains ready to play its part, its full part, in the search for collective responses, aimed at preserving future generations from the scourge of war, ensuring harmonious development for all, and promoting and protecting human rights,” he affirmed.
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