- The junta-leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will hold their first ever joint summit this weekend. The “Alliance of Sahel States” meeting will be held in Niger’s capital Niamey
The military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will on Saturday hold their first joint summit since seizing power in a series of coups, Nigerien authorities said.
“Our country will be hosting on Saturday July 6 the first summit of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) heads of state from Burkina, Mali and Niger,” they said in a statement read out on public radio.
Niger’s junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani will host Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso and Malian ruler Assimi Goita in Niamey from Friday ahead of the summit, the source said.
Their meeting will be held on the eve of a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The three countries announced their withdrawal from that major bloc in January and its remaining members have called for them to rejoin.
The AES is an economic and defense pact.
The three juntas are hostile toward their countries’ former colonial ruler France and other western countries and instead have turned to other partners such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.
In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger agreed in Niamey on a draft text creating the confederation, which the heads of states are expected to adopt at Saturday’s summit.
The three countries, which have faced deadly jihadist violence, also aim to create a common currency.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso’s President landed in Niger on Friday afternoon for the summit and was welcomed at Niamey international airport by Abdourahamane Tiani, leader of the Nigerien military regime that overthrew civilian President Mohamed Bazoum almost a year ago.
Tiani will also host Malian Colonel Assimi Goita, arriving on Saturday morning.
The Burkinabe Presidency said “the fight against terrorism” and the “consolidation of cooperation” will be on Saturday’s agenda, given the deadly insurgency the three countries face.
Many of Niamey’s residents lined the official route to cheer the Burkinabe Captain, waving flags of the three countries.
Saturday’s summit in Niger’s capital Niamey will be the first between the military leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), set up in September.
The trio left the wider Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc in January, alleging it was manipulated by France and not providing enough anti-insurgent support.
ECOWAS leaders will themselves be meeting at a summit in Nigeria on Sunday to discuss relations with the AES.
In early March AES announced joint anti-insurgent efforts, though they did not specify details.
The trio has shifted away from former colonial ruler France, expelling French troops, and turned towards Russia.
They have made sovereignty a guiding principle of their governance and aim to create a common currency.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have been facing a deadly insurgency for years, particularly in the so-called “three borders” zone, where groups linked to the Islamic State have killed civilians and soldiers in attacks and displaced millions of people.
Written with agency reports
