The military regimes of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso marked their formal separation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday, with Niger’s ruling general declaring that the junta-led countries have “turned their backs on” the regional bloc.
The leaders of these three countries participated in the first summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established after they withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year.
“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” said Niger’s ruling General Abdourahamane Tiani during the summit’s opening in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.
The AES mutual defense pact was created in September following the trio’s exit from ECOWAS in January, fueled by accusations of manipulation by Paris and insufficient support for anti-jihadist efforts.
“The AES is the only effective sub-regional grouping in the fight against terrorism,” Tiani declared, criticizing ECOWAS for its “lack of involvement in this fight.”
The three nations have expelled anti-jihadist French troops and shifted their alliances towards what they call “sincere partners” — Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
Given the ongoing jihadist violence, “the fight against terrorism” and “consolidation of cooperation” were key points on Saturday’s agenda, according to the Burkinabe presidency.
ECOWAS is scheduled to hold a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday, where the issue of relations with the AES will be discussed.
This gathering marks the first time the three Sahelian leaders have convened since coming to power through coups between 2020 and 2023.
In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger agreed in Niamey on a draft text to create the confederation, which their heads of state are expected to adopt at Saturday’s summit.
Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tiani welcomed his Burkinabe counterpart Ibrahim Traore on Friday, followed by Malian Colonel Assimi Goita on Saturday.
“This is primarily a political event,” said Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi. “The aim is to show that this is a serious project with three committed heads of state demonstrating their solidarity.”
In early March, the AES announced joint anti-jihadist efforts, though specific details were not provided.
Insurgents have been attacking the “three borders” region between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso for years, despite massive deployments of anti-jihadist forces.
The trio have emphasized sovereignty in their governance and aim to create a common currency.
Several West African presidents have recently called for dialogue between the two blocs. Senegal’s new President Bassirou Diomaye Faye suggested in late May that reconciliation between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries was possible. In June, Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani called for unity against the expansion of jihadism.
However, the simultaneous summits this weekend have raised concerns about a further stiffening of positions between AES and ECOWAS.
“I do not see the AES countries seeking to return to ECOWAS. I think ECOWAS will have to tone it down,” said Nigerien lawyer Djibril Abarchi.
While AES is currently focused on economic and defense cooperation, its member countries have expressed a desire to go further.
In June, Colonel Goita stated that cooperation within AES had taken “a path of no return” during a visit to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital.
The potential creation of a new common currency would mean leaving behind the CFA franc currently shared with neighboring countries.
“Leaving a currency zone is not easy,” warned Yabi. “Any country can change its currency, but it takes a lot of time and requires clear political decisions as well as technical and financial preparation.”
