The junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disclosed a plan to establish a confederation that will deepen their ties following their exit from the regional West African bloc.
According to the statement issued by the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday, the three countries would form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The three neighboring countries in the Sahel region announced in January they would quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite a decision by the bloc urging them to rethink.
Reuters reported that during a meeting in the Burkinabe capital of Ouagadougou, the three ministers from the respective countries affirmed their collective dedication to promptly withdrawing from ECOWAS.
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They “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing resolutely in the process of implementing the AES and creating the Tri-State Confederation,” the Malian foreign ministry said in an online post. The group has not revealed details on how the proposed confederation would operate or on how closely they plan to align political, economic, and security interests.
One of the mishaps in the three countries is their struggle to contain an epidemic battle with Islamist insurgents that has destabilized the subregion. In November 2023, their finance ministers said they would weigh the option of establishing a monetary union, and top officials from all three countries have, to varying degrees, voiced support for abandoning West Africa’s CFA franc common currency.
The juntas have all severed long-standing military ties with former colonial ruler France, dealing a blow to France’s influence in the Sahel and complicating international efforts to fight the militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
Nigerian leader and ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu has had to face challenges of restoring democratic governments in the three countries, as his efforts were met with opposition. He sent a delegation at different times including former military leader, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and Benin Republic President Patrice Talon, to Niger which experienced the recent military takeover.
On 26 July 2023, a coup d’état occurred in Niger when the country’s presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and Presidential Guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta, shortly after confirming the coup a success.
Before Niger’s coup d’état took place, Burkina Faso, on 30 September 2022, had its military takeover when the Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was removed over his alleged inability to contain the country’s Islamist insurgency. Damiba had come to power in a coup d’état eight months earlier before Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over as interim leader.
In 2021, the Malian coup d’état began on the night of 24 May when the Malian Army led by Vice President Assimi Goïta captured President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré. Goita has remained in power since then.
The implications abound
The potential implications of a new confederation in West Africa are multifold. Firstly, it could lead to a consolidation of power among the junta-led governments, potentially entrenching authoritarian regimes in the region. This could further exacerbate issues of governance, human rights abuses, and political instability.
Secondly, the confederation could disrupt existing regional dynamics, particularly within ECOWAS, and strain diplomatic relations between member states. Thirdly, the withdrawal of these countries from ECOWAS and the establishment of a new confederation could weaken regional efforts towards economic integration, security cooperation, and development initiatives.
Lastly, the confederation may face challenges in gaining international recognition and legitimacy, particularly if it is perceived as undermining democratic norms and principles. Overall, the establishment of a new confederation in West Africa has the potential to reshape regional politics and security dynamics, with significant implications for stability and governance in the Sahel region.
Doubtless the tristate may face international challenges of being perceived as anti-democratic but what if like China they grow their states without democracy?
They are thinking outside the box because thinking within the box has not helped after so many years. These are uncertain days and any daring move for collective good is worth trying.
I think you gotten it right.
I agree with you 100%!!!! The Western countries have their twisted definition of the word “democracy” and do their best to interpret it for us to suit their own interests. The solidarity and strength of Burkina Faso and Mali and Niger depends on the united front they present to the outside world!! They could become the most powerful force in Africa!! And serve as the example of what we all need in Africa!! A united front of all African countries into a single United States of Africa country on the African continent!!
This idea of a united States of africa is a papal project intended for supranational authority that reports to a global political authority head tby the pope….this is exactly what the Vatican one world government says….read pope Francis encyclical letter Laidatosi
Eventho this context may seem in a right direction, the 3 countries are still making a mistake by exiting the BLOC! These land lock countries need their West African counter parts. That’s why the Bloc was created, sure most countries in the Bloc defer to the west, but the whole of Africa does…even the super powers within. Nigeria, S.A, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia, etc… Africa will never be fully dependent on itself, siding with Russia, China and others are no big difference. Until we can control our own minerals, resources, and equipment our people with education in all aspects, Africa will NEVER unite!
You hit the nail on the head until we take control and that is what has started with the 3 states and I think others need to take note
Bien dit vieux frère!
It’s unfortunate ECOWAS didn’t for see this sense of direction unfolding neither did France.Thinking outside the status quo within the context of Human Centric Welfare and Security is the game. Geopolitical Rhetorics coupled with traditional intelligence Suppression wouldn’t work any more in the Sahel belt. The guys are wising up by comparing notes. The way forward for externally dealing with these three nations is a confidential analysis among others should be the tactics of King David in the accounts of 1 Samuel 30:11-19.
Africans are so foolish and shallow-minded that they celebrate the coming of suppression and departure of freedom, and worse still endorse the formation of partnership that is meant to ensure the perpetuation of this situation. Who curses Africa?
You are talking nonsense!
It’s really a very good move by these three countries with common destiny. This very event will put forward the roadmap for African countries to liberate from the imperialist colonial enslavement. It’s time for Africa to wake up from it slumber. We should be the custodians of our own destiny.
Leadership in Africa is still at infancy. And like a particular book says “the beautiful ones are not yet born” as of now those 3 countries are still talking much on paper let’s wait for positive action. I personally believe in their common goal which is not only fighting insecurity; but to bring about sustainable development in their respective state. By the way these leaders execute direct leadership. Let’s validate them by looking at employment rates, peace and solidarity, health and freedom of speech in the later days to come.
Well Said…Talk is very cheap, let’s see how they put talking to reality for the citizens! ??
Africa bado sisi tutaendelea kuwa watumwa tulipewa uhulu hewa kiukweli hawa jamaa wa3 wameleta picha nyingine hata mbuyu ulianza kama mchicha mpka sasa huwezi ku ukumbatia viva3 power
The day will come when it’s not just a tri-state but a contiguous state of all the African countries with harmonized security and currency and a single head of rotational leadership as president, then will all terrorism cease, and industrial manufacturing of our minerals to our economic benefits. Bless these new you guys for the start up. Capitalism is the slave master and democracy is the whip to rule the masses under the control of a few rich men, in china that can’t happen the way Elon musk or bill gates or Oppenheimer and the Rothschild family rule over the earth poor population with democracy, that’s dangerous, the continuation of slavery in a benign way.
You hit it on the head….right.
Very true. Even the so-called democracies are not really democratic. They claim to be yet practice gerrymandering, use lobbyists who influence politics, policy, and the way wealth is distributed, plus, they buy politicians to do their bidding. And where is the public in all of this? The country is run by the 1% who are the wealthiest. So, let the Sahel try out their new experiment. After all, run-away capitalism has already molded western democracy in its own image, which is predatarial at best.
All those stated potential implications of a new confederation are useless if the respective countries do not enjoy peace and sovereignty. Only the West would wish to isolate the AES, but they are afraid too because they’ll be the ones to lose out on the minerals found in that region, giving chance to Russia and China to enjoy the full market.
Lets see their approach on corruption. A Mobutu com general Africalapproach or a unique approach combining result proven anti corruption strategies around the world?
If they use a Singapore approach and similar ones, they stand a chance. Singapore is on of the least corrupt countries in the world.
This analysis is shallow and lacks historical content on others that have seceded and either failed or succeeded. And if either, to what extent, before concluding. The fact is, even the romance between democracy and capitalism has evolved to something sinister that the Greek philosophers who came up with the idea didn’t foresee such catastrophic outcome. To me, this Tri-State arrangement is an experiment that statusquo ideas will do everything to nip at the bud before it starts constituting a yardstick on which to judge them.
They have a point. If they mean well and act right then no doubt it could be the beginning of progressive politics of development and integration in Africa. Let them learn from the East African Community model and improve on that. Common currency, free movement of goods services and citizens, one strong force….I am seeing a reawakening of Sankara. But the West will not love that. Imperialism thrives on exploitation and destabilisation. The AU is retrogressive and hypocritical. Their leaders steal elections thanks to the West manipulation and they call that democracy. It is a civilian coup. No different from a bloodless military coup.
Lets see their approach on corruption. A Mobutu com general Africalapproach or a unique approach combining result proven anti corruption strategies around the world?
If they use a Ruwada, Singapore approaches and similar ones, they stand a chance. Singapore, Ruwanda, Botswana aee just few of the least corrupt countries in the world.
Rwanda is a predator backed be Western powers. Uganda is currently a colony of Rwanda: Museveni is Rwandese, and so is his cabinet. Him and Kagame are responsible for countless deaths which have been ignored by the international community. These men are behind M23, a guerrilla outfit that is ransacking the DRC. Wake up Africa. The imperial powers use our own people to do the job for them, and most of us are either ignorant of the fact, or don’t simply care to know. We need to break the chains of slavery and ignorance, just like AES is doing.
Western powers have always colonized Africa through “democracy” and they thrive when there is a puppet leader at top. Let’s pray for the success of these three gallant sons of Africa.
Are these three breakaway countries economically sound to stand up economic challenges for their respective countries when the needs arise?Burkina Faso is poor, Niger and Mali equally the same, their citizens are scattered across other west African countries streets with their children as beggars,how can such people form economic alliance to paddle their own canoes?
Some people on this platform will have reasons to blame westerners for their problems. First informal these three countries are the poorest in ecowas block representing less than eight percent of the ecowas block gdp and on top of that they are all landlocked countries. Ecowas has never been perfect but they have done lots of achievements. You are clueless and bias about this situation. Those juntas are all about power grabs that not in the interest of the population. These countries are undergoing surveys human rights abuses no freedom of speech, media closing and no grounds for different ideas only the juntas ways. Ecowas brought peace to Liberia; Sierra Leone; the Gambia ; Guinea bissau; the ivory coast and Mali. Malian brought this nightmare upon themselves and juntas ruled countries because they are so impatient. They overthrew President Toure 2 months to the election by juntas Sanogo and the countries got into chaos and instabilities and ecowas came in and brought peace by removing the juntas and the national dialog conference that formed the transitional government that included every Malian of 2 years mandate. The transitional government organized free and fair election that elected Ibrahim Keita. Now were two weeks to the election the opposition disgruntled politicians start demonstration and incite the military juntas to overthrow the Civilian elected president. Now you are here wanting to blame ecowas and international community. Long lives ecowas.
Bravo my unique leader, who sacrificed his presidential salary ( Ibrahim Traore ) .The good Lord is behind you, as you, form part of this confederate I know History is in the making, your predecessors who joined Kwame Nkrumah to liberates the continent from evil men who claimed to be Godly, yet resorts to kill our leaders when they see the leaders delivering to their peoples standards
of life- styles,and building their ECONOMIES! Give mass education to the people to understand what you’re in for to stop the Cronies of foreign Killers!
Biggest problem with Africans is they will still slip back to western rulership because of our way of doing things. We do not think outside the box, they’ll still go back and ask for aid from the west, that is were they keep puppeteering us. They are supposed to grow there own economies from their local resources and learn to crawl and be productive within their Tri-state establishment till they walk on their own, stop dependence on France strictly and seriously work on economy growth with other countries mostly African countries and Africa should be ready to assist this growth.