Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received a high-level delegation from Niger on Tuesday, as the two Sahelian nations deepen their energy cooperation under the recently established Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
The Nigerien delegation, led by Minister of Energy Professor Haoua Amadou, delivered a message from Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, and unveiled an ambitious coal complex project set to be developed in Salkadamna, northern Niger.
“We had the opportunity, the great honour, and pride to discuss a transformative project—the Salkadamna coal complex,” said Professor Amadou following the audience.
This project is part of a broader vision for enhanced cooperation among Sahelian states.”
The Salkadamna initiative, a key piece in Niger’s energy strategy, is aimed at establishing long-term energy sovereignty for the member states of the AES Confederation, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
With growing concerns about energy dependency and supply insecurity in the region, the project has been hailed as a potential game-changer.
“This project seeks to lay the foundations for energy sovereignty in our region,” the minister explained. “It is also designed to support a sustainable path to energy independence for the entire Sahel.”
Professor Amadou stressed that the project, under direct instruction from President Tiani, is not intended solely for Niger’s benefit, but rather as a collaborative effort with regional impact.
“On the instruction of General Abdourahamane Tiani, we have asked that Burkina Faso join this initiative so it can be elevated to a regional scale. We want to demonstrate to our partners that this is a project not just for one nation, but for the entire Sahel,” she added.
The meeting marks a new chapter in the AES bloc’s push for regional integration and shared infrastructure, as member nations explore ways to pool resources and advance collective development goals.
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