Malian Foreign Minister reaffirms AES Nations’ sovereign right to determine Electoral timelines
Mali- Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has once again articulated the clear and firm position of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) member countries regarding elections: “The AES nations will hold elections at their own pace.” This statement firmly rejects external dictates and pressures from certain foreign powers and international institutions.
The position reflects a shared determination among Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reclaim control of their political timelines without outside interference.
For AES leaders, the immediate priority is not rushed elections but rather restoring state authority, securing territories, and rebuilding hope for populations battered by years of terrorism and instability.
Elections, they argue, will come when conditions permit once the foundations of true sovereignty are firmly established.
Minister Diop emphasized the need to build durable and legitimate institutions through a carefully managed transition process centered on the interests of Sahelian peoples.
He criticized externally imposed electoral cycles that have often produced weak, corrupt, and subservient governments.
Instead, AES nations are charting their own path one that aligns with their history, dignity, and realities.
Through their transitional authorities, the peoples of the Sahel are asserting their right to determine their own political future.
For them, security, national unity, and sovereignty take precedence over artificial electoral deadlines imposed from abroad.
Neil Camara
