The military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are today meeting in the Nigerien Capital, Niamey, for their first summit as The Alliance of Sahel State (AES).

This historic summit marks the official activation of the AES, a regional organization created by the three countries to pool their efforts to combat insecurity and promote socio-economic development in the Sahel region.

The three Heads of State are seeking to operationalize this military alliance which is now intended as a means of integrating the peoples of the Sahel.

It should be recalled that this summit is being held on the eve of the Summit of Heads of State of ECOWAS in Abuja, from which the three Sahelian countries announced their withdrawal in January.

At the moment, ECOWAS is calling for their reintegration.

The Alliance of Sahel States, AES, also known as Liptako Goma, is a mutual defense pact between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

The agreement was signed following the coup d’etat in Niger on July 26, 2023, against which ECOWAS threatened military intervention. These three countries, all of which face deadly jihadist violence, also wish to create a common currency.