President of the Transition, General Assimi Goïta, hosted the legislative leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso at the Koulouba Palace on October 7, 2025, in a significant step toward institutional consolidation within the newly formed Sahelian Confederation, known as AES.
Established in Niamey on July 6, 2024, the AES brings together Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso with a shared agenda focusing on security, governance, and development.
The meeting in Bamako, led by Lieutenant General Malick Diaw, President of Mali’s National Transitional Council, included Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, President of Niger’s Consultative Council for the Refoundation.
Discussions centered on enhancing parliamentary cooperation and preparing the framework for the AES Parliament, with preliminary draft texts having been validated in Ouagadougou in September.
During the audience, officials reaffirmed their commitment to building shared institutions under the motto “One Space – One People – One Destiny.”
The discussions are a continuation of work initiated at the ministerial meeting held in Bamako in February 2025, aimed at structuring the Confederation at political and economic levels.
This diplomatic sequence follows the joint withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, formalized in January 2025, signaling a shift toward regional restructuring rooted in sovereignty and collective security.
The legislative leaders expressed their intent to support harmonized economic policies and joint infrastructure initiatives, reflecting a growing commitment to regional integration.
President Goïta emphasised the importance of adapting to evolving security and economic challenges to ensure the Confederation’s effectiveness.
“The consolidation of the AES requires constant adjustment to the realities of our region,” he said, highlighting the strategic role of the Confederation in fostering Sahelian stability.
For the parliamentarians, the meeting underscored the rising cohesion among Sahelian peoples and reinforced the shared vision of their heads of state.
The discussions in Bamako mark a pivotal moment in the AES’s evolution, positioning the Confederation as a key political and strategic framework shaping the future of the Sahel.
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