The military regimes governing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have solidified their alliance within a "Confederation" during their first summit today in Niamey. This decision underscores a break with the other countries in the West African bloc. The three nations stated in a final communiqué from the summit that their military leaders decided to take an additional step towards deeper integration among member states. To this end, they adopted a treaty establishing a confederation between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger called the Confederation of Sahel States.
The three countries ruled out returning to the regional bloc of West Africa, which could compromise regional efforts to end coups and curb widespread violence throughout the area. This announcement by the leaders of the military councils came during their first summit in Niamey, the capital of Niger, following their withdrawal from the West African bloc known as ECOWAS in January.
They accused ECOWAS of failing in its mandates and pledged to strengthen their union – the Sahel States Alliance – which was established last year amidst strained relations with neighboring countries. Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, remarked that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), founded nearly 50 years ago, has become "a threat to our countries." He added, "We will create a system for the peoples, in contrast to the Economic Community of West African States, which is dictated by foreign powers with their directions and instructions."
This summit of the three neighboring countries comes a day before a meeting of ECOWAS in Nigeria, where other regional heads of state are set to convene.
