The Alliance of Sahel States: A Bold Reconfiguration of West African Dynamics

In September 2023, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso announced the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a mutual defense pact that evolved into a confederation by July 2024. This seismic shift, formalized through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, marks a pivotal moment in West African geopolitics, driven by a shared rejection of foreign influence and a quest for sovereignty. 

The AES, born amid military coups and regional instability, is reshaping the Sahel’s security, economic, and political landscape, with profound implications for the region and the African continent. By extricating themselves from decades of external interference, these nations are charting a new path, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges and opportunities.

The Genesis of the AES: A Response to Crisis and Colonial Legacies

The AES emerged from a confluence of crises: relentless jihadist insurgencies, economic stagnation, and political upheaval. Between 2020 and 2023, Mali (2020, 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023) experienced military coups that ousted civilian governments perceived as corrupt and ineffective against rising insecurity. These juntas, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta (Mali), Captain Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), and General Abdourahamane Tiani (Niger), capitalized on popular discontent with Western-backed regimes that failed to curb violence from groups like Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province.

The coups were also a rebellion against Françafrique—France’s enduring political, military, and economic influence over its former colonies. For decades, France maintained a grip on the Sahel through the CFA franc currency, tied to the French Treasury, and military operations like Barkhane, which stationed thousands of troops to combat jihadists. Yet, violence escalated—Burkina Faso alone saw a 77% rise in political violence deaths by February 2023, surpassing Afghanistan as the world’s terrorism epicenter. Public frustration grew as French-led interventions failed to deliver security, while foreign firms, particularly French and Canadian, extracted vast wealth from the region’s gold, uranium, and oil resources. Niger, a top uranium supplier to the EU, saw little benefit from its exports, with 42% of its population under 15 facing poverty and climate-driven resource scarcity.

The AES was thus a strategic pivot. Signed in the Liptako-Gourma region, where the three countries’ borders converge, the charter commits members to mutual defense against external aggression or internal rebellions, creating a “common space” for security and economic cooperation. The alliance’s formation was catalyzed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatening military intervention in Niger after its 2023 coup, prompting Mali and Burkina Faso to warn that any attack on Niger would be an attack on all three. By January 2025, the AES countries formally withdrew from ECOWAS, accusing it of serving Western interests and failing to address regional security.

Regional Impact: Fracturing West African Unity

The AES’s formation has fractured West Africa’s regional architecture, undermining decades of integration under ECOWAS. The bloc, founded in 1975, facilitated visa-free movement, trade worth $150 billion annually, and peacekeeping operations. The AES’s exit, likened to a “West African Brexit,” has disrupted these flows, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger introducing a joint biometric passport and imposing grain export controls to prioritize intra-AES trade. This move aims to bolster food security but risks straining relations with coastal neighbors like Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, critical for landlocked Sahel states’ access to ports.

Security dynamics are also shifting. The AES has pledged a 5,000-strong joint force to combat jihadists, replacing the defunct G5 Sahel, which collapsed after Mali’s 2022 withdrawal and was criticized as a Western proxy. Yet, the alliance faces daunting challenges. Burkina Faso’s security crisis is “catastrophic,” with 2.1 million internally displaced, while Mali’s military claims of retaking northern towns like Kidal remain unverified amid media blackouts. Niger’s junta accuses France of funding terrorists to destabilize the AES. These accusations fuel anti-Western sentiment but risk escalating tensions with neighbors like Algeria and Benin, already strained by diplomatic spats.

The AES’s rejection of ECOWAS has weakened regional counterterrorism efforts, as the bloc’s coordinated operations falter without Sahel participation. Coastal states fear spillover from the Sahel’s instability, with jihadist groups exploiting porous borders. Chad, a key player in the G5 Sahel and Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram, has resisted joining the AES, maintaining a cautious stance to balance regional ties. The alliance’s focus on sovereignty over governance has also raised concerns about authoritarianism, with juntas dissolving political parties, harassing civil society, and delaying elections.

Continental Implications: A Challenge to African Integration

On the African continent, the AES signals a broader push for autonomy and Pan-Africanism, echoing historical movements like Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of African unity. Burkina Faso’s Minister Bassolma Bazié, speaking at the UN in 2023, framed the alliance as a rejection of colonial borders and Westphalian statehood, advocating for African self-determination. This resonates with other separatist or autonomist movements, such as Cameroon’s Ambazonian struggle or Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict, where marginalized groups challenge centralized state power.

The AES’s defiance of Western institutions, including Mali’s 2025 withdrawal from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), inspires other African nations to question neocolonial ties. Guinea’s support for the AES, defying ECOWAS sanctions to provide port access, suggests potential for wider alliances. However, the African Union’s muted response—issuing “business as usual” statements—reflects its struggle to mediate amid rising assertiveness from regional blocs. The AES’s economic ambitions, including a new currency to replace the CFA franc and a regional development bank, could set a precedent for resource-rich but impoverished nations to reclaim economic sovereignty. Niger’s rapid economic growth, driven by uranium and oil nationalization, underscores this potential, though long-term sustainability remains uncertain.

Yet, the AES risks deepening continental fragmentation. Its withdrawal from ECOWAS weakens the African Union’s push for regional integration, critical for addressing transnational challenges like terrorism, climate change, and migration. If successful, the AES could inspire other blocs to prioritize sovereignty over unity, potentially unraveling frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Conversely, failure could discredit anti-Western movements, reinforcing reliance on external powers.

Extricating from Foreign Interference: A Sovereignist Revival

For decades, foreign interests have shaped the Sahel’s trajectory. France’s military presence, EU development aid, and U.S. counterterrorism training were billed as stabilizing forces but often prioritized Western strategic goals—securing uranium for Europe’s energy needs or countering Russian and Chinese influence—over local development. The CFA franc, pegged to the euro and backed by French reserves, limited monetary autonomy, while foreign mining firms extracted billions in gold and uranium, leaving local economies stagnant. Public perceptions of democracy soured as elected leaders, backed by the West, failed to address corruption or insecurity.

The AES is a deliberate effort to break this cycle. The juntas have expelled French, U.S., and UN troops, replacing them with Russian security contractors like the Africa Corps, which provides training and protects mining sites. Mali and Burkina Faso have signed military deals with Moscow, while Niger courts Russian investment in uranium and satellite technology. This shift, while framed as anti-imperialist, risks swapping one external patron for another, as Russia’s Wagner Group has been accused of human rights abuses in Mali. China, positioning itself as a neutral actor, is expanding investments in the Sahel, potentially through its Belt and Road Initiative, but its focus remains on East Africa.

Economically, the AES is asserting control over its resources. Mali detained foreign mining executives to enforce profit-sharing, while Burkina Faso nationalized gold mines and revised its mining code to increase state stakes. Niger severed ties with French uranium giant Orano, redirecting exports to China and Russia. The alliance’s plan for a new currency and central bank aims to end reliance on the CFA franc, though recovering foreign exchange reserves from France and the UEMOA Central Bank poses logistical hurdles. These reforms have spurred economic growth—Niger ranks as Africa’s fastest-growing economy—but the region’s low development indices (Mali: 188/193, Niger: 189/193, Burkina Faso: 185/193) highlight the scale of the challenge.

Culturally, the AES is reclaiming regional identity. The introduction of a joint passport, flag, and anthem fosters unity, while promoting local languages in media counters French linguistic dominance. Traoré’s invocation of Thomas Sankara’s Pan-African legacy resonates with youth, who form 42% of West Africa’s population and are increasingly skeptical of Western models.

Challenges and Prospects: A High-Stakes Gamble

The AES’s success hinges on its ability to deliver security and prosperity. Jihadist violence remains unabated, with JNIM’s attacks in Burkina Faso and Mali killing hundreds in 2024. Authoritarian measures, including forced conscription and media crackdowns, alienate civil society, risking internal dissent. The alliance’s reliance on Russia raises concerns about long-term dependency, while tensions with neighbors like Côte d’Ivoire and Benin could disrupt trade.

Yet, the AES’s bold reforms offer a blueprint for African-led development. Its focus on agriculture, energy, and infrastructure addresses root causes of instability, while nationalizing resources could fund social programs. If the alliance navigates geopolitical rivalries and sustains public support, it could redefine West African sovereignty, inspiring similar movements continent-wide.

Conclusion: A New Era for the Sahel and Africa

The Alliance of Sahel States is a daring experiment in self-reliance, born from decades of foreign exploitation and regional failure. By rejecting ECOWAS, France, and Western frameworks, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are rewriting their destiny, with ripple effects across West Africa and the continent. While the AES challenges colonial legacies and fosters Pan-African unity, its success depends on overcoming security threats, economic hurdles, and the risk of new dependencies. As Captain Traoré declared, “Africa is not an empire of slaves.” The AES’s journey will test whether this vision can become reality, shaping Africa’s place in a multipolar world.