Alliance of Sahel States

Not to be confused with Sahel Alliance.

Alliance des États du Sahel
Alliance of Sahel States
Alliance of Sahel States (red)
Alliance of Sahel States (red)
Largest cityBamako, Mali
Lingua francaFrench
Demonym(s)Sahélien
TypeConfederation
Partner States
Leaders
• President
Assimi Goïta
Establishment6 July 2024
Area
• Total
2,781,392[1] km2 (1,073,901 sq mi) (8th)
• Water (%)
0.74
Population
• 2024 estimate
71,375,590[1] (20th)
• Density
25.7/km2 (66.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• Total
Int$179.357 billion[2] (81st)
• Per capita
Int$2,513
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• Total
US$62.380 billion[2] (88th)
• Per capita
US$874
HDI (2022)0.413
low
CurrencyWest African CFA franc / Sahel (proposed)[3]
Time zoneUTC+0 / +1 (GMT / WAT)
Drives onright

The Alliance of Sahel States (ASS)[4][5][6][a] (French: Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)) is a confederation[9] 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.[6][10][11][12] 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.[13][14][15] The confederation was established on 6 July 2024. It is against the policy of neocolonialism in Africa and the world.[16] It is also anti-French and anti-ECOWAS in outlook, as it disagrees with many of their policies.[17][18][19]

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.[13][20] Due to being propped up by Russia, ASS states are in staunch opposition to Ukraine, who has gone on to voice support of Azawad separatists in Mali.[21] 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.[22] In response Sweden severed several million Krona of aid to Mali and cut diplomatic ties.[23]

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.[20][3]

  1. ^ a b "The World Factbook". cia.gov. Retrieved 7 June 2024.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: CIA World Factbook
  2. ^ a b "World Economic Outlook database: April 2024". imf.org. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "ÉCONOMIE AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST Mali, Burkina, Niger : une monnaie commune est-elle crédible ?". Jeune Afrique (in French). 12 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ "With ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo". France24. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference planned dissolution was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b AFP (16 September 2023). "Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger sign mutual defense pact". Le Monde. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ "International Women's Day Celebrations With AES Women in New York". Embassy of the Republic of Mali in the Untited States of America. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ Gray, Sébastien (27 November 2023). "Burkina Faso Claims to Kill 400 Militants, as Militants Claim Victories". The Brief. Atlas News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ^ "West Africa bloc warns of 'disintegration' as juntas form 'Confederation of Sahel States'". France 24. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso establish Sahel security alliance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact". Reuters. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ^ Report, Agency (16 September 2023). "Mali, Niger, Burkina juntas sign mutual defence pact". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Russia's Wagner Group expands into Africa's Sahel with a new brand". CNBC. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "West African coup juntas threaten to quit regional block: What it means". CNBC. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. ^ "The Alliance of Sahel States: A regional crisis in troubled West Africa". Samir Bhattacharya. Observer Research Foundation. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  16. ^ "New wave of anti-colonial populism sweeps Francophone Africa ". Quartz. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Breakaway junta confederation undermines ECOWAS summit". France 24. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  18. ^ "West Africa bloc warns of 'disintegration' as juntas form 'Confederation of Sahel States'". France 24. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ a b Millar, Paul (12 July 2024). "Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso: How a triumvirate of military leaders are redrawing West Africa's map". France 24. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger accuse Ukraine of supporting terrorism in Sahel". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Niger Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Ukraine Over Alleged Support for Terrorism - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  23. ^ AHMED, BABA (9 August 2024). "Mali ousts Swedish ambassador amid strained relations with the West". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 November 2024.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).