AES - Alliance of Sahel States

Written By Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher

https://www.rozen-bakher.com/alliances/aes

Published Date: 18 May 2026

COPYRIGHT ©2023-2026 ZIVA ROZEN-BAKHER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Rozen-Bakher, Z, Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher, https://www.rozen-bakher.com/alliances/aes

Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher

Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher: Monitoring Main Multilateral Trade/ Political/ Economic Alliances, as well as Multilateral Military Defence Treaties (MMDTs), Bilateral Military Defence Treaties (BMDTs), and Foreign Military Presence

Rozen-Bakher, Z. Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher https://www.rozen-bakher.com/monitoring-alliances

Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher

Researcher in International Relations and Foreign Policy with a Focus on International Security alongside Military, Political and Economic Risks for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade

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For Explanation about Military Defence Treaty versus Military Support Treaty versus Military Cooperation, please see Section B2 in Section B. Introduction: Why do we need a Global Survival Rank?, 2024 Global Survival Rank (GSR) by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher, https://www.rozen-bakher.com/gsr/2024/e/introduction

Alliance of Sahel States (AES)

The Alliance of Sahel States (Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)) includes three African countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which all of them formally withdrew from the African Union (AU) and its African Standby Force (ASF) of ECOWAS due to the suspension of their membership by the African Union, because of the military coups that took place in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger during the years 2021-2023, as has happened too many to count in Africa (Look for Military Regime in PD5). This isolation led to the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. First, they formed a Multilateral Military Defence Treaty (MMDT), and after that, they established the AES that includes trade, economic, and political aspects, and even with the prosperity to create a Free Movement of Persons and Goods as part of the AES, as well as the AES Investment Bank that will serve the three countries. Since the establishment of the AES, the superpowers have changed hands in these countries, namely Russia has become the patronage of AES, instead of Western countries. In 2025, Russia even signed a defence cooperation memorandum with AES during the joint summit in Russia, which makes Russia a “key external security partner for the AES countries” to promote “military training, logistical support, arms transfers, and intelligence coordination” (Source: ASA). Although recently, Russia even provided military air support to prevent rebels from capturing the capital and other key positions in Mali (Source: MSN).

Full 25-point Declaration of AES https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article131446

Highlights from the 25-point Declaration of AES (Translation from French, source: Le Faso):

  • The Heads of State welcomed the results achieved through the coordinated actions of the three (3) States in the fight against terrorism within the Alliance's area of ​​operation. They therefore decided to take a further step towards deeper integration among the member countries. To this end, they adopted the treaty establishing a Confederation between Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, and the Republic of Niger, called the "Alliance of Sahel States" Confederation, abbreviated as the AES Confederation.

  • They welcomed the establishment of a Joint Force of the Sahel States (FC/AES) at the meeting of Chiefs of Staff held in Niamey from 05 to 06 March 2024. This Force has the mission of implementing a permanent trilateral plan to combat armed terrorist groups, transnational organized crime and other threats faced by these countries.

  • The Heads of State welcomed their irrevocable and immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS. They also reaffirmed the full sovereignty of each of the ESA member countries in strategic choices contributing to the well-being of their populations.

  • On political issues, the Heads of State stressed the need for coordination of diplomatic action and the importance of speaking with one voice.

  • Regarding the free movement of persons and goods, the Heads of State instructed the relevant Ministers to urgently prepare draft additional protocols relating to this matter in order to address the implications of the withdrawal of the ESA States from ECOWAS.

  • The Heads of State stressed the need to pool their resources in order to implement structuring and integrative projects in strategic sectors, in particular:

    –  Agriculture and food security;
    –  Water and the environment; energy and mining;
    –  Trade and industrial transformation;
    –  Infrastructure and transport
    –  Communication and telecommunications;
    –  Free movement of people and goods;
    –  The digital economy

  • The Heads of State decided on the creation of an ESA Investment Bank and the establishment of a Stabilization Fund. To this end, they instructed the Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs and those in charge of Development to take the necessary steps to make them operational.

  • Regarding communication within the framework of the AES, the Heads of State instructed the Ministers to implement an effective communication strategy to ensure accurate information for the public through increased use of national languages ​​in public and private media. They also decided to establish certified digital platforms featuring narratives that reflect the aspirations of the people.

  • The Heads of State stressed the importance of ensuring better coordination in the monitoring and implementation of decisions from the various sessions of the College of Heads of State. They also welcomed the establishment of National AES Committees in the three (3) countries to ensure better coordination.

Map of AES by Membership Status

List of AES by Membership Status, sorted by Alphabetical Order

AES by Global Survival Rank (GSR)

Stay Tuned for the 2026 Global Survival Rank (GSR)

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Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher

Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher - A Researcher in International Relations with a Focus on Security, Political and Economic Risks for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade

https://www.rozen-bakher.com/
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