CDD West Africa
After enduring economic and political power struggles with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally withdrew from the intergovernmental organisation (IGO) to create the Alliance of Sahel States, or Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), on the 29th of January, 2025.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are all a part of the “coup belt” of West Africa; they are facing a decade-long insurgency led by Islamic extremists of ISIS-affiliated groups and other jihadist movements, raising concerns regarding border security as all states face land captures by jihadist groups. The governments of the three West African states believe that ECOWAS has limited state sovereignty and has failed to protect them during the insurgencies. It is also worth noting that ECOWAS has suspended membership in the states because they are led by men who consolidated power through coups.
With the intention of eventually uniting into a single sovereign state, the AES was formally established to pool resources for the development of infrastructure, establish a common market, implement an economic union under a single currency, grant people freedom of movement through the establishment of the AES passport, further industrialise, and invest in natural resource mining, agriculture and the energy sector. Antoine Somdah, the former ambassador of Burkina Faso to Russia, states that the AES is “a collective defence and mutual assistance bloc aimed at countering any ECOWAS military intervention or any external threat, including terrorism, with the ambition of sub-regional economic integration”.
As of May 6th, 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have accomplished several tasks as a part of the AES.
The introduction of a joint biometric passport starting January 29, 2025, is aimed at facilitating free movement within the bloc, though some neighbouring countries like Senegal have refused to recognise it.
Proposals for a common central bank and the replacement of the CFA franc with a new form of currency have been put forth.
A 5,000-strong joint military force is in development to coordinate counterterrorism operations across the three countries, with ongoing joint military actions targeting jihadist groups along their borders.
Joint infrastructure projects in agriculture and energy are planned to boost self-reliance, alongside export controls on grain to ECOWAS countries.
The unveiling of a new flag for the AES in February 2025 symbolises unity and autonomy. They also signed a convention to establish a common cultural policy and are working toward creating a joint parliament.
The progress of AES is highly observed by the international community, especially by France, as the three states were all a part of French West Africa and have received significant foreign military aid to combat the jihadist insurgency. Ibrahim Traoré, interim President of Burkina Faso, along with most of the state, shares a Pan-Africanist, anti-imperialist, and strong Sankarist outlook due to Burkina Faso’s historical grievances with the West– the Burkinabé attitude towards France can be rendered as bitter and complex. Another concern of the West is the growing relationship between the AES and Russia; these conflicts of interest pose an issue with the West, as many politicians approach the idea of the AES with extreme caution.