Alliance of Sahel States

Regional insurgencies and successive coups

The Sahel has been the site of an ongoing jihadist insurgency since 2003, which has led to many conflicts in the region, such as the Mali War and the Boko Haram insurgency. These have caused instability and dissatisfaction with governments in the region.

In the 2020 Malian coup d'état, Assimi Goïta and the National Committee for the Salvation of the People seized power in Mali after overthrowing the elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.^[33] Goïta later led a second coup in 2021, deposing interim president Bah Ndaw who had been nominated to lead a transitional military government.^[34]

A few months later, in the 2021 Guinean coup d'état, the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development removed elected president Alpha Condé and installed Mamady Doumbouya as transitional president.^[35] Guinea is not a member of the AES, but has been offering diplomatic support to the confederation.

In 2022, Mali withdrew from the internationally backed G5 Sahel alliance. Niger and Burkina Faso did so in 2023, leading to announcement of the dissolution of the framework by its last two members Chad and Mauritania three days later.^[6]

A faction of Burkina Faso's military overthrew their existing military government in the September 2022 coup d'état, installing Ibrahim Traoré over Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had come to power in the January 2022 coup d'état which toppled the France-aligned government of president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.^[36]

In July 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland removed the elected government of Niger's Mohamed Bazoum, installing Abdourahamane Tchiani and a new junta in the 2023 coup d'état.^[37]

Withdrawal of Western forces

In 2022, Mali's military government terminated defense agreements with France and accused French troops of failing to contain Islamist insurgencies and interfering in domestic politics.^[38][39] In January 2023, Burkina Faso's military government formally ended its military agreement with France and demanded the withdrawal of 400 French special forces from their country within a month.^[40] This was the result of growing nationalist and anti-colonial sentiment in addition to anti-French protests in the country.^[41][42] In July 2023, Niger's military government demanded France withdraw its 1,500 troops. French President Emmanuel Macron initially resisted but eventually announced a full withdrawal by the end of 2023.^[43][44] France's ambassador was also expelled, signaling a complete diplomatic breakdown.^[45]

While the U.S. presence in Niger was more counterterrorism-focused, it was also pushed out.^[46] Niger had been a key U.S. ally and hosted drone bases with over 1000 troops and special forces.^[47] Niger revoked its military agreement with the United States in March 2024 and ordered the withdrawal of all U.S. forces.^[48] This led to the closure of Air Base 101 in Niamey and the $110‑million Air Base 201 drone facility in Agadez.^[49][50] The withdrawal was completed later that year.^[51][52] Mali and Burkina Faso, which had previously expelled French forces and deepened ties with Russia, similarly ended U.S. military cooperation, leaving no American presence in any AES state. The loss of the Niger drone bases was a major setback for U.S. power projection and surveillance capabilities in the Sahel.^[53]

The United States has since been working to reset relations and to create new military partnerships with the AES countries.^[54]

Nigerien crisis and departure from ECOWAS

All three of the alliance's member states were suspended by ECOWAS shortly after the ousting of their elected governments. After the coup in Niger, ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily and restore president Bazoum's government, resulting in a regional crisis. The juntas of Mali and Burkina Faso promised military aid to Niger in the event of an intervention, while Guinea's provided diplomatic support. The promises of military aid resulted in the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States as a mutual defense bloc for the three nations, averting an ECOWAS intervention.^[9] The West Africa Peoples Organisation denounced the proposed intervention, calling it a "pretext to carry out imperialist plans to keep Niger (rich in mineral resources, notably uranium and hydrocarbons) continually in the imperialist fold."^[55][56]

On 28 January 2024, the three countries announced in a joint statement their intention to withdraw from ECOWAS.^[57] ECOWAS appointed three mediators to begin dialogues with the three countries.^[58] On 15 December 2024, the Conference of Heads of State of ECOWAS adopted an exit transition period for Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, which was to begin 29 January 2025 and end on 29 July 2025.^[59][60] The AES rejected the timetable extension proposed by ECOWAS and said it would adhere to its January 2025 withdrawal timeline.^[61]

On 29 January 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally withdrew from ECOWAS after having provided the required 1-year notice.^[62] On 29 January, to consolidate their exit from ECOWAS and strengthen their alliance, the three countries began circulating new AES passports and announced a new unified 5,000-strong military unit.^[63]

AES countries were all founding members of ECOWAS in May 1975.^[62] The withdrawal has resulted in ECOWAS losing 76 million of its 446 million people and a significant portion of its total geographical land area.^[64][65] The AES is now geographically larger than ECOWAS, covering 2,781,392 km² compared to ECOWAS's adjusted 2,087,596 km².^[66]

Formalization of the Confederation

In May 2024 at a meeting in Niamey, representatives of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger finalized a draft text for the creation of the AES.^[67] In July 2024, at a summit in Niamey, the AES heads of state signed a confederation treaty to strengthen the existing mutual defense pact and released a 25-point communique.^[21][68] This included agreement on a one-year rotating presidency, with Assimi Goïta, junta leader and interim president of Mali, commencing his term on the same day. It was agreed that the first joint AES parliamentary summit would be hosted in Burkina Faso.^[69]

On 22 February 2025, AES ministers officially launched the flag of the AES^[70] after its validation by the heads of state of the member countries.^[71] As of January 2025, AES ministers are working on the creation of a joint parliament.^[72]

Goïta handed over to Ibrahim Traoré as President of the AES on December 24, 2025.^[73]

Relations with the West African Economic and Monetary Union

AES countries have not shown their readiness to break ties with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU, also known by its French acronym UEMOA), which is headquartered in Burkina Faso. Leaving UEMOA is a more complex decision than leaving ECOWAS. UEMOA member countries share a single currency, the CFA franc, which is based on a convertibility guarantee by the French Treasury. If a country leaves UEMOA, it will have to recover its foreign exchange reserves, currently divided between the UEMOA Central Bank in Abidjan (50%) and the French Treasury (50%).^[74] Nonetheless, proposals have been made for a joint AES central bank and a new currency to replace the CFA franc.^[75]

The AES adopted a confederal levy on imports originating outside the UEMOA to support operations of the newly created AES regional development bank.^[76]

Economic integration

Proposals have been made regarding a common central bank jointly with the introduction of a new currency to replace the CFA franc.^[78][75][15] In an effort to boost agricultural and energy self-reliance, joint infrastructure programs are envisioned, and export controls on grain towards the rest of ECOWAS have been implemented.^[79][80][81] Energy regulators from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Bamako in May 2025 to harmonise their policies on energy security and promote renewable energy.^[82]

Investment bank

Plans for an AES bank were first announced in May 2025.^[83] In December 2025, the AES formally established the Confederal Investment and Development Bank (BCID-AES) as its financial arm. The bank was created following the signing of its founding charter in Bamako under AES President Assimi Goïta. The announcement was made by Burkina Faso's Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo.^[84][85]

The BCID-AES was launched with an initial capital of 500 billion CFA francs (approximately US$895 million) and is financed through contributions from the three member states. Each country is expected to allocate around 5% of annual tax revenues to the bank, supplemented by a confederal levy to strengthen its resources. The bank's mandate is to mobilize resources for priority projects in infrastructure (particularly road networks), agriculture and food security, energy and regional interconnections, and private-sector initiatives aligned with national development priorities. The bank follows the model of regional development institutions like the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and the Development Bank of Central African States (BDEAC), which finance public and private investments across their member states. The creation of the BCID-AES is a step toward financial sovereignty, one of the four pillars guiding the AES along with collective security, economic integration, and cultural and educational identity.^[83][86]

Joint military force

A joint AES military force was first announced when Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS in January 2025. In December 2025, the AES launched a new 5,000 member military force to combat Islamist insurgencies and transnational crime across the Sahel. The United Force of the Alliance of Sahel States (FU‑AES) was formally inaugurated at an air force base in Bamako on December 20, 2025, with AES President Goïta overseeing the ceremony. The force unites troops from all three countries and integrates air, intelligence, and ground coordination to conduct operations against extremist groups in the tri‑border region. Malian general Daouda Traoré was appointed commander. The headquarters is based in Niamey.^[87]

AES TV Channel

On 22 December 2025, the AES officially launched AES TV, the dedicated regional television channel of the AES. The inauguration, in Bamako was marked by a ceremony attended by the leaders of all three AES countries. The channel's mission is to strengthen communication among AES member states, highlight national achievements and public policies, promote regional cooperation, and project a unified Sahel voice on the international stage. Beyond news, AES TV aims to showcase cultural, political, and social initiatives to deepen mutual understanding across the region.^[88] The launch is a strategic milestone for the AES, offering a unified media platform that enhances the visibility of AES initiatives, improves communication between governments and citizens, and reinforces a shared regional identity.^[89]

AES TV is carried on multiple satellites, including Intelsat 37e @ 18°W and Intelsat 35e @ 34.5°W.^[90]

Common culture

On 5 February 2025, the AES states established a "common cultural policy".^[91]

Judicial cooperation and regional court

AES ministers met in May 2025 to establish judicial cooperation within the AES. The meeting, chaired by Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga, focused on creating a common legal framework to address transnational challenges, including insecurity, arms proliferation, and money laundering. The goal was to enhance judicial convergence without unifying laws and to make systems interoperable while improving governance, legal protections, and institutional stability.^[92] Participants proposed the establishment of a regional criminal court aimed at addressing terrorism, violent extremism, and human rights violations in the Sahel region. This initiative shows a commitment to unified judicial responses against security and governance challenges in the region. A decision has not yet been made on the location of the proposed court. A high-security prison of "international standards" will also be built to house convicted prisoners.^[93][94]

Withdrawal from the ICC

In September 2025, the AES criticized the International Criminal Court as "a neo-colonial imperialist tool" and announced plans to withdraw from it in favor of "indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice".^[95] Burundi, the first African country to leave the ICC in October 2017 citing the Court's alleged bias against African leaders, expressed support for the decision of the AES.^[96] In July 2026, the ICC confirmed that the AES states had initiated the one-year withdrawal process.^[97]

Food security

The AES has created the Alliance of Agricultural Seed Producers of the Sahel (APSA-Sahel) to strengthen regional food sovereignty and promote seed systems locally adapted to the Sahelian climate. The initiative is designed to reduce dependence on foreign seed imports, promote indigenous seed varieties, and increase seed research, production, and distribution in the Sahel.^[98] The AES is also developing a confederation‑wide joint purchasing agency to better regulate cereal markets, build a shared grain reserve, and strengthen food security across the region. AES President Assimi Goïta announced the initiative in December 2025.^[99]

AES Games

From 21 to 28 June 2025, Mali hosted the first Alliance of Sahel States Games. More than 500 professional athletes from AES states competed in soccer, traditional wrestling, archery, and other events. The games are part of an effort by the AES to build solidarity under their confederation.^[100]

Other measures

Roaming charges for telephone communications between the three countries have been abolished.^{[101][102][103]} A joint biometric passport for AES citizens was introduced in January 2025.^{[104][105][106]} At the end of March 2025, AES countries introduced a common customs duty of 0.5% on imports from outside the AES.^[107] In May 2025, AES culture ministers validated the adoption of the official anthem of the confederation.^[108] Experts from the road authorities of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger met in May 2025 to define a common approach to road safety.^[109]

France

After having expelled French troops in 2022 and 2023, AES states in March 2025 further distanced themselves from France by announcing their decisions to withdraw from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), an international organization established in 1970 in Niamey, Niger, to promote the French language and encourage cooperation among French-speaking nations. Although the three AES countries are founding members of the OIF, they were suspended from the organization following the coups that brought military leadership to power, and consider the organization "a politically manipulated instrument".^[130][131] Anti-French in outlook, the countries removed French as an official language in favour of native tongues, and renamed colonial street names. Mali also suspended teaching of the French Revolution in schools.^[132]

United States

On 16 December 2025, the United States announced an expanded travel ban affecting several countries, including the AES nations.^[133] The ban, starting on 1 January 2026, was justified on the grounds of national security, terrorism risks, visa overstays, and concerns about information sharing. In response, the AES countries invoked the principle of reciprocity and imposed their own travel restrictions on U.S. citizens.^[134]

On 8 January 2026, the AES strongly condemned and denounced the United States's "act of aggression" against Venezuela and the illegal abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.^{[135][136][137]}

Relations with neighbors

Foreign partners

The AES has been working to diminish the influence and control of former colonial power France over its resources, territory, diplomatic relations, and trade.^[157] As part of this realignment, AES states have been seeking new partnerships to fill the vacuum left by France's exit. This has resulted in an intention to increase economic and security cooperation with Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Turkey, China, Iran, Azerbaijan, North Korea,^[158] and Afghanistan.^[159][160]

Russian involvement notably includes a joint satellite program with Roscosmos,^{[161][deprecated source?]} and military assistance from Wagner Group mercenaries and later the Russian Africa Corps.^[162] In June 2025, Russia signed nuclear cooperation agreements with Burkina Faso and Mali for the peaceful use of atomic energy, infrastructure development, and energy security. The Burkina Faso–Russia Agreement, finalized during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, includes the construction of a nuclear power plant, developing regulations, and training specialists.^[163] Rosatom also pledged scholarships and technical support, aiming to address Burkina Faso's severe electricity shortage. The Mali–Russia Agreement, signed during Assimi Goïta's visit to Russia, includes nuclear infrastructure, safety regulations, training, and applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry. The agreement is expected to boost Mali's energy autonomy and reduce reliance on imports.^[164]

Turkey's foreign, defense, and energy ministers met with their counterparts in Niger to discuss new deals in the areas of security and defense, trade, energy, and mining on 17 July 2024.^[165][166] Turkish Sadat military contractors operate in Niger as of January 2025.^[167]

Iran and Niger signed a joint cooperation agreement during the third meeting of their Joint Economic Committee on the sidelines of the Iran Expo 2025 in April 2025.^[168]

Accusations of destabilization

The leaders of the AES have publicly accused Western countries (especially France) of actions to undermine their security, sovereignty, and political stability. These allegations have become more prominent since the three states expelled French military forces from their territory and withdrew from ECOWAS. Their accusations include claims that Western actors have:

• Supported or facilitated the activities of armed groups in the region^{[169][170][171]}
• Interfered with regional security initiatives^[172]
• Engaged in covert actions aimed at weakening AES governments^{[173][174][175]}
• Sought to maintain influence in the Sahel through political or economic pressure^[176]
• Supported networks involved in political or security-related destabilization^[177][178]

These allegations form part of the AES governments’ stated rationale for distancing themselves from Western military partnerships and pursuing alternative security and diplomatic arrangements. Western governments, including France, have consistently denied these accusations.

The AES has expressed strong opposition to Ukrainian support of rebels in the Sahel after comments by Ukrainian officials in August 2024 stating they had supported Jihadists in an ambush that killed Malian soldiers.^{[179][180][181]} Mali and Niger subsequently cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine.^[182][183] The AES has called on the United Nations to take action against Ukraine and accused Ukraine of supporting terrorism in the Sahel. Amid the dispute between Mali and Ukraine, Sweden’s ambassador to Mali accused the Malian government of supporting an “illegal Russian war” in Ukraine, and Sweden halted planned financial assistance to Mali. Mali responded by expelling the Swedish ambassador and ending their diplomatic engagement.^[23]