The leadership in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, currently under a junta, has officially declared their intention to forge ahead with the establishment of a confederation, as stated by the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday.
This move signifies a deepening alliance among the three nations, posing a challenge to broader West African integration.
In January, these neighboring countries in the economically challenged Sahel region announced their decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move strongly discouraged by the bloc. ECOWAS cautioned against the additional hardships this withdrawal could bring.
During a meeting in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, the respective foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger affirmed their joint commitment to promptly withdraw from ECOWAS. They expressed their determination to continue collaboration under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The ministers reiterated their dedication to advancing decisively in implementing the AES and establishing the Tri-State Confederation, as highlighted in a statement by the Malian foreign ministry.
The group has not provided specific details regarding the operational framework of the proposed confederation or the extent to which they plan to synchronize political, economic, and security interests. This lack of clarity comes amid their ongoing struggle to contain a decade-old conflict with insurgents, causing destabilization in the subregion.
In November of the previous year, their finance ministers indicated a consideration for establishing a monetary union. Furthermore, high-ranking officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have expressed varying degrees of support for abandoning the West Africa CFA franc, the common currency.
Complicating matters, the juntas in these nations have severed longstanding military ties with their former colonial ruler, France. This move not only deals a significant blow to France’s influence in the Sahel but also adds complexity to international efforts aimed at combating militants associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State in the region.
