On September 16, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger joined forces to establish the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a response to shared ideals in the face of international economic sanctions following a breach of constitutional order. The Alliance convened its inaugural ministerial summit on November 25 in Bamako, the capital of Mali, bringing together ministers responsible for Economy and Finance from the three Sahelian countries.
The summit primarily centered on economic development within the Liptako-Gourma region, resulting in the adoption of 18 key recommendations. These aim to set the stage for genuine integration within the newly formed alliance. The proposed measures include enhancing the free movement of goods and people across the AES, implementing a robust food security mechanism, formulating a collective industrialization strategy for alliance states, expediting the execution of energy, agricultural, hydraulic, and transportation projects, and even considering the establishment of regional civil nuclear power projects.
This gathering follows the adoption of the Liptako-Gourma Charter on September 16, amid political tensions between the three states, all governed by military juntas, and the ECOWAS organization. The latter imposed stringent sanctions and demanded a swift return to constitutional order.
While the recommendations have been well-received by the populations of the Alliance countries, their effective implementation raises some questions. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain heavily reliant on external financial, food, and humanitarian aid, often sourced from countries traditionally unsupportive of "unconstitutional changes." The economic repercussions of these stringent sanctions continue to impact the economies and financial systems of these three nations, compounded by the significant humanitarian consequences of the ongoing security crisis.
ECOWAS central bank governors reaffirm a 2027 target for launching the Eco. Nigeria signals...
South Africa led with 35% of total deal value, ahead of Kenya and Egypt Inbound deal value ro...
Investigation targets alleged breaches of Nigeria’s 2023 data protection law Platform processes p...
West African Development Bank (BOAD) launched preparation of its 2026–2030 strategic plan wit...
The fast-growing installment payment market is set to expand sharply across the continent, even as s...
Xcalibur to launch $297.8 million mapping phase in DRC Three-year surveys to cover 700,000 square kilometers Program aims to modernize data,...
Gabon held the 5th steering committee for the eGabon and Gabon Digital programs on February 23. Authorities aim to strengthen interministerial...
The draft Cybercrime Bill would grant authorities expanded investigative powers over electronic data and communications. The Institute for Public...
Senegal, Canada finalize plans for Dakar-Montreal flights Air Transat to operate twice weekly from June Route expected to boost diaspora...
Located about 500 kilometers southwest of Cairo, between the oases of Bahariya and Farafra, the White Desert stands out as one of Egypt’s most distinctive...
The University of Lomé on Wednesday opened a fossil and rock exhibition hall showcasing specimens from the country’s coastal sedimentary basin. Led by the...