The Confederation of Sahel States Takes a Decisive Step with the Validation of Its Roadmap for 2026

On February 25 and 26, 2026, Ouagadougou hosted a strategic meeting crucial for the future of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). The ministerial delegations from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger gathered at the airbase in the Burkinabè capital to finalize and approve the roadmap for the second year of their confederal alliance. This meeting reflects the commitment of the three states to strengthen their cooperation in the face of security, diplomatic, and economic challenges that continue to undermine the Sahel region.

From February 25, the coordinated arrival of the Malian and Nigerien delegations in Ouagadougou marked the beginning of this major diplomatic sequence. The Malian delegation, led by the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, General Sadio Camara, was welcomed by his Burkinabè counterpart, the Minister of War and Patriotic Defense, General Célestin Simporé. Alongside them were several key figures from the institutional framework of the AES, including Bassolma Bazié, president of the AES National Commission, as well as Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré and Minister in charge of Commerce Serge Gnaniodem Poda.

The Nigerien delegation, led by the Minister of National Defense, General Salifou Mody, received a similar ceremonial welcome, with an honor guard formed by Burkinabè and Malian authorities. This ceremony, far from being purely symbolic, illustrates the importance that the three states place on unity and brotherhood within their new confederal framework.

On February 26, the actual ministerial work began. The ministers in charge of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Infrastructure from the three countries reviewed and validated the conclusions from the preparatory work conducted by senior officials. According to information relayed by official sources, these conclusions specifically address the roadmap for the second year of the AES, a crucial step to transform initial commitments into concrete operational actions.

The stated objective of this roadmap is ambitious: to structure cooperation around three fundamental pillars: defense and security, diplomacy, and economic development. According to Mahamane Maiga, a Malian member of the AES Committee, these three dimensions are intrinsically linked. He stated to Sputnik Africa that "the three pillars are priorities in the treaties: defense and security, development, and diplomacy. Because without defense, there is no development. And without improvement in socio-economic conditions, there is no security."

This integrated approach reflects a strategic understanding of contemporary Sahelian issues. The region continues to face cross-border terrorist threats, chronic political instability, and structural economic challenges exacerbated by the withdrawal of several Western partners and the break with traditional regional organizations.

Indeed, the creation of the AES is part of a context of redefining Sahelian alliances. Initially formed in 2023 as a collective defense alliance among the three states now led by military juntas, the AES was formalized as a Confederation in July 2024. This institutional evolution was accompanied, on January 28, 2024, by the announcement of the simultaneous withdrawal of the three countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The authorities of the three capitals justified this decision by stating that ECOWAS had not provided adequate responses to the security challenges they faced.

This withdrawal has been perceived by many observers as a major turning point in West African geopolitics, marking a fracture between the Sahelian states under military control and the ECOWAS member countries that remain committed to civilian governance. This rupture has also contributed to weakening regional coordination in counter-terrorism efforts, as highlighted by a recent report published by Nairametrics regarding the rise of terrorist attacks in several states in northern Nigeria, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara. According to this report, terrorist attacks in these areas have increased by 86% in recent times, a rise directly linked to the weakening of regional cooperation since the partial withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from regional security blocs.

In the face of this fragmentation, the AES positions itself as a credible and sovereign alternative. The technical work conducted in Ouagadougou was led by Bassolma Bazié, who emphasized the need for a "realistic and ambitious" roadmap, based on the coherence and complementarity of actions among the three states. Experts worked to "transform the grand declarations of intent into concrete actions on the ground," drawing lessons from the first year of the organization's existence.

Among the priorities identified for Year II are strengthening the coordination of defense strategies against cross-border threats, harmonizing diplomatic positions on the international stage, and accelerating common economic projects. Discussions notably focused on transport corridors, facilitating trade exchanges, and developing structural infrastructures aimed at supporting endogenous development.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Burkinabè ambassador to Niger, Abdou Diallo, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the work. Speaking to Sputnik Africa, he confirmed that the meeting "went very well" and emphasized that "we reached a consensus." This statement reflects the convergence of views among the three states and their determination to make the AES an operational instrument of shared sovereignty.

The recommendations resulting from the meeting must now be submitted to the heads of state of the three countries for final validation. This step confirms the institutional deepening of the Confederation and marks the transition from a structuring phase to an operational implementation phase.

Thus, Act II of the Confederation is part of a dynamic of strategic consolidation, with the ambition to firmly anchor Sahelian cooperation and strengthen a sovereignty embraced by its member states. In a regional context marked by rising violence, the fragmentation of traditional alliances, and tensions with Western partners, the AES aims to demonstrate that an autonomous and coordinated Sahelian alternative is not only possible but necessary.

The success of this second year will be crucial for the future of the Confederation. If the three states manage to translate their commitments into tangible results on the ground, particularly in terms of security and development, the AES could establish itself as an essential regional actor and redefine the geopolitical balances in West Africa sustainably.