Burkina Faso: Towards a confederal parliament for the Sahel, a decisive step forward for Sahelian unity
On Friday, 19 September 2025, an important step towards regional integration was taken in Ouagadougou. The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received the presidents of the parliaments of Mali and Niger, accompanied by their Burkinabe counterpart, Dr Ousmane Bougouma. This meeting was part of the process of drafting the legal texts for the future confederal parliament, as provided for in the Treaty of the Confederation of Sahel States.
This confederal parliament, one of the three major bodies envisaged, aims to strengthen political cooperation between the member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
It will enable better legislative coordination, harmonisation of public policies and a common voice on major issues in the region.
The submission of the preliminary draft text to President Ibrahim Traoré is a welcome initiative. It signals the parliamentarians’ desire to move this ambitious project forward quickly.
And by promising to forward the document to his counterparts in Mali and Niger, the Burkinabe Head of State is demonstrating his commitment to the rapid and effective establishment of the confederal parliament.
This collective approach illustrates a new dynamic in the region: that of integration through institutions, supported by the people and their representatives.
The future confederal parliament could become a pillar of stability, dialogue and development for the Sahel.
Maurice K.ZONGO
