Sahel leaders rally for sovereignty, unity at 'historic' regional alliance summit
Leaders of Alliance of Sahel States highlight security, economic potential, resistance to external pressures, charting path toward independent development
Malian President Assimi Goita
BAMAKO, Mali
Gen. Assimi Goita, the Malian president and current head of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), said on Tuesday that the confederation would continue to diversify its international partnerships, “particularly with emerging powers, in full respect of our sovereignty.”
Speaking at the close of a session hailed by officials as “historic,” Goita praised the unity and resilience of Sahelian populations while outlining the bloc's security, economic, and diplomatic priorities.
He emphasized that the transition in the Sahel is driven primarily by its citizens, saying: “The real strength of the Confederation lies in the resilience and unity of its people.”
He saluted the political maturity of populations across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and paid tribute to the diaspora for their support through “concrete actions and a constant commitment to their homelands.”
Goita highlighted solidarity among member states, thanking Niger and Burkina Faso for aiding Mali during economic pressures. He described sanctions from external bodies as “a form of economic terrorism,” noting that regional unity had been key in overcoming these challenges.
On security, he reported positive operational outcomes, saying: “Several terrorist bases have been destroyed thanks to the professionalism of the confederal forces.”
He reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to self-reliance, adding: “The security of the AES will be ensured first and foremost by our own forces,” and cited the ongoing development of the Unified Force of the AES.
Addressing economic issues, the Malian president rejected narratives portraying the Sahel as structurally poor.
“The AES space has immense mining and agricultural potential capable of feeding our populations and supporting development,” he said.
He also highlighted the launch of AES Television, describing it as a strategic tool “to break disinformation campaigns and hostile narratives targeting our states.”
'In the Sahel, security precedes everything'
Niger's Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani echoed themes of independence, declaring an end to foreign influence and stating that no external power, organization, or lobby would dictate laws to AES nations.
“All decisions will be taken within the confederal territory,” he said, underscoring full sovereignty for Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey.
“As Cheikh Anta Diop so rightly said, security precedes development, but in the Sahel, security precedes everything,” Tiani said, referring to the late Senegalese historian and anthropologist.
Tiani denounced past “deceptive agreements” that maintained precarity and submission, asserting that no dominated country achieves true development. He framed the AES as the instrument for “real decolonization,” with protecting populations as the utmost priority.
Burkina Faso's President Capt. Ibrahim Traore closed with a stark warning of an imminent large-scale destabilization in West Africa, which he termed the “Black Winter” – a phase of external threats, terrorism, and economic pressure aimed at undermining Sahelian sovereignty.
Traore described the AES's creation not as a political choice but a survival necessity, calling it the only shield against a cycle of violence and systemic destabilization. He said leaders had anticipated this “winter” and built collective defenses to protect their people, averting a potentially catastrophic human toll.
He urged heightened vigilance and deeper alliance consolidation, emphasizing that hesitation was no longer an option and that strengthening regional solidarity was vital to confront the region's threats.
