Niger : Sahel States Create Confederation

Military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formalized the creation of a new Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, intended to promote “greater integration” between the three countries. The creation on Saturday, July 6, 2024 of the Confederation during the first summit in Niamey is seen by many observers as, the latest demonstration of their distancing from regional allies and traditional Western countries. During the summit, the three leaders signed a treaty strengthening “the mutual defense pact announced last year, “the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)” and maintained their decision to quit Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Al-Jazeera reports that the creation of a Confederation came hours before the meeting in Abuja (Nigeria), on Sunday July 07, 2024 of leaders of ECOWAS. On hand to put pen on paper were, the military leader of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore and Mali’s Assimi Goita. 
In a joint statement, the leaders praised the successful synergy between the three States in combating terrorism within the alliance area and emphasized their commitment to deeper integration among member States. “Considering our shared goal of an effective fight against terrorism in the Sahel, particularly in the Liptako-Gourma region, we have...