Mali prepares to host historic summit of Sahel States Alliance (AES) leaders
Bamako is set to welcome the heads of state of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) for a pivotal summit marking one year since the Confederation’s formal establishment in Niamey.
This gathering will conclude Mali’s presidency under General Assimi Goïta and serve as a strategic review of the Alliance’s transformative achievements in security and regional cooperation the foundational pillars of the new Sahelian partnership.
Confronting complex geopolitical challenges, the AES nations Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have charted a resolutely sovereign course focused on decisive action and deeper integration.
Their security vision has materialized through a shared defense architecture combating terrorist threats while resisting external pressures and foreign interference.
The 2023 mutual defense pact has synchronized military efforts, enabling the recapture of vulnerable territories and directly benefiting local populations.
Under General Goïta’s leadership, the AES has established powerful political and symbolic milestones: the adoption of an Alliance anthem, the introduction of AES passports, and progress toward a Sahelian central bank and common currency collectively demonstrate the organization’s transformative ambitions.
This reinvigorated governance model, rooted in Pan-Africanism and popular sovereignty, has restored hope to millions across the Sahel.
The Alliance’s impact resonates from rural communities to national capitals through measurable improvements: enhanced security, renewed public trust, and reinvigorated economic activity.
The Sahel region is progressively transforming from a crisis zone into a hub of resilience and innovation.
As the AES charts its future with clarity and determination, its bold, solidarity-driven governance shaped by leaders attuned to their citizens’ aspirations is defining the contours of a new era for the Sahel. An era built on dignity, sustainable peace, and shared prosperity is emerging through the Alliance’s pioneering vision.
Souley DIAWARRA
