Niger : Spotlight on the operationalization of the AES confederation
This Thursday, May 02, 2024 in Niamey, the President of the National Committee in charge of the operationalization of the AES Confederation, Adjani Illo was in front of the press to inform the opinion about the missions of this confederation.
On April 10, Niger’s CNSP President Abdourahamane Tiani signed a decree creating the National Committee for the operationalization of the Alliance of Sahel States Confederation.
According to Mr. Adjani Illo, the committee’s missions focus on two main areas. « The first is to operationalize the Alliance of Sahel States as established by the Liptako Gourma Charter, which establishes a defensive alliance in terms of defense and security, and the second is to anchor the very idea of the purpose of a confederation called the Confederation (AES) Alliance of Sahel States ».
This confederation of states will bring together three countries with a view to a possible federation in the future. Unlike the first, essentially military, alliance, the AES confederation will focus on three areas: the first is defense and security, which is already under development; the second concerns foreign policy and diplomacy, with the aim of harmonizing the foreign policy and diplomatic actions of the three states.
Finally, the third axis concerns development, with a major objective of building an economic and financial framework between the three States, including the resolution of development financing and monetary issues, the establishment of an investment bank and a stabilization fund, and the creation of interconnection infrastructures such as an airline, and road and rail infrastructures between the States.
Ambassador Adjani Illo informed the press that, in addition to these missions, there are two other specific missions: classic missions involving prospective reflection on the geopolitical stakes and obstacles to the construction of the confederation, and a specific mission consisting of proposing to the CNSP and the government the measures to be taken to make the said confederation operational.
As a reminder, the Committee set up by President Tiani is made up of statutory members, all selected on the basis of the positions they hold within the state apparatus, including diplomats, university officials, senior officers and planning economists, as well as members from civil society, notably women’s organizations, youth organizations and the Burkinabe and Malian communities present on Niger territory, as it is a question of building something with three.
