Burkina-Faso: Liptako-Gourma Charter / Ibrahim Traoré signs the AES anti-terrorism charter
On September 16th,2023, the Head of State of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, together with his peers from Mali and Niger, signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter establishing the Alliance for Sahel States (AES). The creation of this Alliance marks a decisive step in cooperation between Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The Alliance for Sahel States (AES) brings together Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and will make it possible to fight terrorism in all its forms more effectively within the grouping.
The aim of the charter is first and foremost to «establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance».
«For the sovereignty and development of our peoples, we will lead the fight against terrorism in our common space, until victory», wrote President Ibrahim Traoré on his X account (ex Twitter).
Comprising 17 articles and running to 5 pages, the signatory parties made a number of commitments, notably in Article 8, «… not to resort, between themselves, to the threat, use of force or aggression, either against the territorial integrity or the political independence of a party; not to blockade the ports, roads, coasts or strategic infrastructures of a party by the armed forces ; not, from territory made available by a Party, to perpetrate attacks or aggression against another Party or third States; not, from the territory of a Party, to allow armed groups, irregular armed forces or mercenaries to perpetrate attacks against a country in the area».
The President of the Transition and Head of State of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, had received in audience the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation of Mali, Lieutenant-Colonel Abdoulaye MAÏGA, head of the Malian delegation, who had maintained that «Mali and Burkina Faso share common challenges in terms of security as well as socio-political and economic issues, and this requires permanent consultation».
Firmly supporting the brotherly people of Niger, Burkina-Faso, which has paid a heavy price in recent months, especially in attacks in Liptako-Gourma, has, with this signature, acquired an effective weapon against terrorism in this large part of the Sahel zone.
MAÏGA DAO
