Burkina Faso’s transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré welcomed a delegation from Niger on August 6, 2025, to discuss a landmark regional energy initiative aimed at boosting energy sovereignty across the Sahel.
The Nigerien Minister of Energy, Professor Haoua Amadou, led the talks in Ouagadougou, advocating for Burkina Faso’s active participation in the Salkadamna coal complex project under the auspices of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
“We had the honor of discussing with the President of Burkina Faso a structuring project for our countries: the Salkadamna coal complex,” Professor Amadou said after the meeting.
She stressed that the project represents a deepening of cooperation within the AES framework, designed to harness the region’s natural resources more effectively.
This ambitious venture aims to lay the groundwork for lasting energy autonomy across the Sahel, benefiting member states by reducing dependency on external energy sources.
“On the instructions of General Abdourahamane Tiani, we have requested Burkina Faso’s support so that this project can take on a regional dimension. This is not a project for a single country, but for the entire Sahel,” the minister explained.
The Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, is seeking to consolidate efforts in vital sectors including energy, security, and infrastructure. The Salkadamna coal complex is viewed as a pivotal step toward collective energy independence, helping to transform the Sahel’s economic and strategic landscape.
By pooling resources and fostering regional integration, the AES hopes to overcome longstanding challenges posed by energy scarcity and infrastructure deficits. The project reflects a shared commitment among the Sahelian states to build resilience and sustainable development in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
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