The military juntas currently governing Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—have convened an emergency summit in Bamako to formalize a landmark defense agreement. The leaders, who seized power through coups between 2020 and 2023, are prioritizing a sovereignist agenda and distancing themselves from Western alliances.
Assimi Goïta, the Malian junta leader, hosted his counterpart, Nigerien general Abdourahamane Tiani, on Monday. Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s ruling military head, was initially scheduled for Monday but arrived Tuesday, according to Malian officials.
symbolic unity: a new joint military force takes shape
The primary objective of the summit is to advance plans for a multinational rapid-response force designed to counter the relentless expansion of jihadist militants across the Sahel region. On Saturday, Goïta formally presented a banner to the AES Unified Force (FU-AES), declaring the alliance’s “official operational activation.” However, authorities have yet to announce a concrete timeline for deployment.
The AES nations have faced over a decade of terrorist violence linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, with no signs of abatement. Recent attacks have shifted southward in Mali, where insurgents are systematically dismantling the nation’s fragile economy. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger continue to grapple with destabilizing insurgencies, forcing thousands of civilians into displacement.
A Malian defense ministry official confirmed to reporters: “We’ve allocated all necessary resources. Each country has contributed troops and equipment. We will fight side by side on the ground.”
beyond defense: economic and media integration
Beyond military collaboration, the AES leaders also inaugurated Télévision AES studios in Bamako, though its launch date remains unspecified. Additionally, they are set to approve the formation of a joint development bank, headquartered in Bamako, further solidifying economic ties among the three nations.
The AES bloc has distanced itself from France, its former colonial power, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), instead strengthening partnerships with Russia and other international actors.