Sahel military regimes' first summit convenes in Niamey
Military leaders from post-coup regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to convene for the inaugural summit of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) in Niamey this Saturday, according to official sources.
“Niger will host the first summit of the SSA heads of state, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, on Saturday, July 6th,” announced Niamey authorities in a brief statement broadcasted on public radio.
Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré and Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goïta will be welcomed in the capital by Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tiani.
This gathering precedes a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the following day, from which the three Sahelian countries withdrew in January and are now considering reintegration.
The SSA currently focuses on economic cooperation and defense, uniting three regimes that have adopted a stance critical of France and other Western nations, instead forging ties with partners such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
In mid-May, Burkinabe, Malian, and Nigerien Foreign Ministers “finalized” a draft confederation agreement in Niamey, slated for adoption by heads of state during Saturday’s summit.
These nations, all grappling with deadly jihadist violence, also aim to establish a common currency in their concerted efforts to stabilize the region.
The summit marks a significant diplomatic and strategic shift in the Sahel, as regional powers seek to consolidate alliances and assert greater autonomy amid ongoing security challenges.
