AES: Alliance Heads of State to hold summit soon
After eight months since its establishment, the Sahel States Alliance (AES) is poised to convene its inaugural Heads of State summit, likely to be held in Bamako, Mali. Reports suggest that one of the military leaders heading transitional governments will assume the rotating presidency of the Alliance.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré from Burkina Faso, Colonel Assimi Goïta from Mali, and General Abderhamane Tiani from Niger are scheduled to meet soon in Bamako for the first AES Heads of State summit.
Preceding this event, foreign affairs ministers convened in Ouagadougou in February to craft the legal and institutional framework of the bloc.
This landmark AES summit aims to endorse decisions previously made by foreign affairs ministers and chiefs of staff during discussions in Ouagadougou.
Additionally, it will designate the incumbent president of the Sahel States Alliance, tasked with coordinating political, diplomatic, and military actions within each member state.
In late January, the AES announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing deviations from core principles and alleged manipulation by imperialist powers.
Despite ECOWAS’ efforts to reconcile, it’s evident that the military-led transitional governments remain steadfast in their decision.
With each passing day, the gap between the Sahelian bloc and the West African institution continues to widen.
Olivier TOE
