Military leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso sign a confederation treaty, distancing themselves from ECOWAS and Western allies.
In a dramatic departure from traditional alliances, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have signed a groundbreaking treaty, marking a significant shift away from their regional and Western allies. This move, finalized during a summit in Niamey on Saturday, further cements the mutual defense pact established last year under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The summit was a historic first for the leaders—Niger’s General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traore, and Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goita—who have all come to power through successive coups in their bordering West African nations.
The signing of the confederation treaty comes just months after these nations withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc they have increasingly viewed as a threat. ECOWAS had suspended the three countries following their respective military takeovers—Niger in July 2023, Burkina Faso in September 2022, and Mali in August 2021. ECOWAS also imposed sanctions on Niger and Mali, although bloc leaders have held out hope for their eventual return. Yet, Tchiani’s remarks at the summit were unequivocal: “We are going to create an AES of the peoples, instead of an ECOWAS whose directives and instructions are dictated by powers foreign to Africa.”
Burkina Faso’s Traore echoed this sentiment, accusing foreign powers, particularly former colonial ruler France, of exploitation. “Westerners consider that we belong to them and our wealth also belongs to them. They think that they are the ones who must continue to tell us what is good for our states,” Traore stated. “This era is gone forever. Our resources will remain for us and our populations.”
Mali’s Goita emphasized the solidarity within this new alliance, declaring, “An attack on one of us will be an attack on all the other members.”
This meeting in Niamey strategically preceded an ECOWAS gathering in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where discussions on mediating the countries’ return to the bloc were expected. Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris noted that the timing was likely intended to counter ECOWAS initiatives and affirm the trio’s stance against returning to the bloc. Despite recent informal diplomatic efforts by Senegal’s newly elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to mend ties, the outcome remains uncertain.
Adama Gaye, a political commentator and former ECOWAS communications director, remarked that the creation of the AES has indeed weakened the economic bloc. He criticized ECOWAS for its failures in achieving regional integration, promoting intra-African trade, and ensuring security, suggesting that the bloc needs a comprehensive reinvention and renewed diplomatic engagement to bridge this growing rift.
The Niamey summit underscored a significant shift in security alignments, coming a day before the United States was set to complete its withdrawal from a key base in Niger. This development highlighted the region’s ongoing instability, with armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL jockeying for control and causing widespread violence. Following the coups, the three nations’ ties to Western governments have frayed. French troops have withdrawn from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, and the U.S. is completing its withdrawal from strategic bases in Niger.
In place of Western alliances, the new military leaders are increasingly looking to Russia for security and economic partnerships. However, the effectiveness of this new approach in curbing regional violence remains dubious. Burkina Faso experienced a sharp increase in violence in 2023, with over 8,000 deaths reported. In Niger, any progress against armed groups has been undermined post-coup. In Mali, a brutal offensive involving Russian Wagner mercenaries led to mass civilian casualties and widespread displacement.
The human cost of these power shifts is staggering. Approximately three million people have been displaced across these nations due to ongoing conflicts. The future of regional stability hinges on whether this new alliance can achieve what ECOWAS could not—real security and sustainable development for their populations.
