Burkina Faso / Counter-terrorism: Defence ministers from the AES received by Captain Ibrahim Traoré
This Friday, July 10, 2026, the President of Faso and President of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), Captain Ibrahim Traoré, granted an audience to the Defense Ministers of the Alliance’s member countries. The meeting took place in Ouagadougou, on the sidelines of proceedings dedicated to strengthening the operational capabilities of the AES Unified Force.
The delegation was composed of Army General Salifou Mody, Minister of State and Minister of National Defense of Niger; Major General Oumar Diarra, Deputy Minister for Defense of Mali; and Major General Célestin Simporé, Minister of State, Minister of War and Patriotic Defense of Burkina Faso.
These military officials had come to seek the guidance of the Confederation’s President on the ongoing work and on the security issues affecting their shared space.
Major General Célestin Simporé, speaking on behalf of the delegation, explained that this meeting falls within the framework of implementing the roadmap for the Confederation’s second year.
The discussions focused on reviewing the fundamental documents intended to provide a legal framework for the operation of the Unified Force, which is already operational.
The objective is to give it a legal framework consistent with its missions of protecting populations and defending the territorial integrity of member states.
Beyond technical aspects, the delegation wished to pay a courtesy visit to Captain Traoré in order to seek his advice and vision on the conduct of the work.
According to Major General Simporé, the President of the Confederation insisted on the need to make the Unified Force the spearhead of the fight against terrorism and a major instrument in the service of the AES countries’ regained sovereignty.
This audience, marked by fraternity and convergence of views, illustrates the growing strength of security cooperation within the AES.
It also confirms the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré in steering this strategic integration project, placed under the sign of sovereignty and active solidarity between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Maurice K.ZONGO
