The juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have signed a “confederation” treaty

The military juntas of the African countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed a “confederation” treaty.

Agence France Presse reported on this.

The military leaders of these countries signed the agreement during today’s first summit in Niamey.

All three countries have severed their military and defense ties with France, seeking greater cooperation with Russia. For example, in April of this year, Russia sent its military advisers to Niger.

The heads of the three countries, which came to power in coups in recent years, “decided to take a step further towards greater integration between the member states” and “adopted a treaty establishing a confederation,” they said in a statement at the end of Saturday’s summit.

On Saturday, they also discussed a “reciprocal” approach to strategic sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and transportation.

The “Confederation of Sahel States,” using the acronym AES, will unite approximately 72 million people.

In January, three countries announced that they were withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organization they accused of being manipulated by France, their former colonial ruler.

“Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS,” said General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of Niger’s military government, opening the summit.

Relations between ECOWAS deteriorated after the July 2023 coup that brought Tchiani to power, when ECOWAS imposed sanctions and even threatened military intervention to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The sanctions were lifted in February, but relations between the two sides remain frosty.

ECOWAS is holding a leaders’ summit on Sunday in Abuja, where the issue of relations with AES will be on the agenda.

In March, the junta created a joint military force to fight jihadist groups that regularly attack their territory. This was preceded by a statement by the military junta of Niger to allow the armies of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso to enter the country in case of an attack. This took place back in August 2023.