• Source: Alliance of Sahel States

The Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) (French: Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)) is a confederation formed between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It originated as a mutual defense pact created on 16 September 2023 following the 2023 Nigerien crisis, in which the West African political bloc ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily to restore civilian rule after a coup in Niger earlier that year. All three member states are former members of ECOWAS and currently under the control of juntas following a string of successful coups, the 2021 Malian coup d'état, the September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état, and the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état. The confederation was established on 6 July 2024. It is against the policy of neocolonialism in Africa and the world. It is also anti-French and anti-ECOWAS in outlook, as it disagrees with many of their policies.
Within the territory of the ASS, there are various terrorist and insurgent groups including ISGS, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and various separatist groups fighting in Northern Mali such as the Azawad Movement. The war against these groups has been assisted by both French and United States troops, with further assistance from UN peacekeeping forces. In 2024, the ASS cut off military relations with Western powers and replaced Western military forces on their territory with Russian mercenaries, specifically the Wagner Group. The ASS has expressed strong opposition to Ukrainian support of rebels in the Sahel after comments by Ukrainian officials in August 2024 stating they had supported separatists that killed Malian soldiers. The ASS has called on the United Nations to take action against Ukraine and accused Ukraine of supporting terrorism in the Sahel. As a result, Mali and Niger have severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine. In response Sweden severed several million Krona of aid to Mali and cut diplomatic ties.
The confederation's stated goal is to pool resources to build energy and communications infrastructure, establish a common market, implement a monetary union under proposed currency the Sahel, allow free movement of persons, enable industrialization, and invest in agriculture, mines and the energy sector, with the end goal of federalizing into a single sovereign state.




Background and history



The Sahel has been the site of an ongoing jihadist insurgency since 2003, which has led to many conflicts in the region, such as the Mali War and the Boko Haram insurgency. All three member states have had their pro-Western civilian governments overthrown by their militaries, and each is ruled by a military junta as part of the Coup Belt. In 2022, Mali withdrew from the internationally backed G5 Sahel alliance. Niger and Burkina Faso did so in 2023, leading to announcement of the dissolution of the framework by its last two members Chad and Mauritania three days later.
In the 2020 Malian coup d'état, Assimi Goïta and the National Committee for the Salvation of the People seized power in Mali after overthrowing the elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. Goïta later led a second coup in 2021 which deposed the interim president Bah Ndaw who had been nominated to lead a transitional military government.
Just months later, in the 2021 Guinean coup d'état, the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development removed the elected president Alpha Condé and installed Mamady Doumbouya as transitional president. Guinea is not a member of the ASS, but has been offering diplomatic support to the confederation.
A faction of Burkina Faso's military overthrew their existing military government in the September 2022 coup d'état, installing Ibrahim Traoré over Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who had come to power in the January 2022 coup d'état which toppled the democratic government of president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Most recently, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland removed the elected government of Niger's Mohamed Bazoum, installing Abdourahamane Tchiani and a new junta in the 2023 coup d'état.
All three of the alliance's member states were suspended by ECOWAS before announcing their withdrawal from the regional bloc. After the coup in Niger, ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily and restore president Bazoum's government, which resulted in the Nigerien crisis. The Nigerien government had the backing of Mali and Burkina Faso, which promised military aid to Niger in the event of an intervention, and Guinea, which offered diplomatic support. The promises of military aid resulted in the creation of ASS as a mutual defense bloc for the three nations in an attempt to stave off an ECOWAS intervention. On 28 January 2024, the three countries announced via a joint statement that they were withdrawing from ECOWAS.
In May 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger finalized in Niamey a draft text creating the ASS, its objective is to finalize the project relating to the institutionalization and to the operationalization of ASS.
On 6 July 2024, the military leaders at a summit in Niamey, Niger, signed a confederation treaty to strengthen the existing mutual defense pact. The signing marked the conclusion of the first joint summit of the alliance. Two significant outcomes of the summit were:
1. The naming of colonel Assimi Goïta, head of state of Mali, as president of the new confederation, for a period of one year.
2. The 25-point ASS communique of Saturday, July 6th 2024.
On 15 September 2024, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, announced the creation of a joint investment bank, a television channel and a biometric passport.
On 23 September 2024, ministers from the ASS countries met with officials from Russia's Roscosmos space agency in Bamako, Mali and announced the signing of a five-year strategic satellite deal. As part of the deal, Russia will deploy telecommunications and remote sensing satellites above the three nations. The technology is to boost border surveillance and national security in all three countries and facilitate TV, internet, and telephone service to inaccessible and underdeveloped areas.
On 22 November 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a memorandum of understanding on the end of roaming charges for telephone communications between the three countries.




Resources


The ASS countries are resource rich. For example, Niger is among the world's biggest uranium exporters and for many years has been a major uranium exporter to the EU. In 2021, Niger produced just under 5% of all mined uranium worldwide. Niger was working to begin oil exports to China through the Niger–Benin Oil Pipeline until the efforts were frustrated in early 2024. China intervened in May 2024, resulting in the resumption of crude oil exports via the Chinese-funded pipeline. The pipeline was closed again after just one shipment of oil due to damages after a terror attack.
Some major known resources in ASS territory include:




Partners


The ASS has been taking actions to diminish the influence and control of former colonial power France over its resources, territory, diplomatic relations, and trade. It has been seeking new partnerships and deals to fill the vacuum left by France's exit.
Some ASS partners include:




Stated Goals


The Alliance of Sahel States has taken actions towards it’s stated goals of of regional stability, economic independence, and self-reliance.
1. Regional Stability and Security: The ASS has taken active measures to counter armed groups and foster stability in the region. Joint military operations have resulted in successful actions against terrorist groups, enhancing security.
2. Economic Independence: The ASS has made strides towards economic sovereignty by proposing a common central bank with plans for introducing a new currency to replace the CFA franc. This move aims to reduce reliance on external financial systems.
3. Infrastructure Development: Significant investments have been made in energy, communications, and agricultural infrastructure, aiming to boost economic growth and self-reliance.
4. Regional Integration: The introduction of a biometric passport for ASS citizens promotes regional integration and mobility. . In November 2024 The ASS announced "free roaming" (no roaming charges) for mobile service between AES countries.
5. Diversified Partnerships: The ASS has diversified its international partnerships, reducing reliance on traditional Western partners and seeking new alliances with countries in Asia and the Middle East.
6. Withdrawal of Western Forces: The ASS has successfully withdrawn French and American military forces from the region, marking a symbolic victory for national sovereignty.




See also


G5 Sahel
Liptako–Gourma Authority
Anti-French sentiment
Anti-Ukrainian sentiment




Notes






References






External links


Charter of Liptako-Gourma establishing the Alliance of Sahel States

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Aliansi Negara-Negara Sahil
• Nigeria
• Globalisasi
• Perbudakan
• Konflik Mali Utara
• Alliance of Sahel States
• Sahel Alliance
• Sahel (disambiguation)
• G5 Sahel
• Abdourahamane Tchiani
• Sahel
• Ass
• Africa Corps (Russia)
• List of military alliances
• 2024 in Burkina Faso