Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traore on Monday, July 6, called for stronger cooperation among Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) marked its second anniversary.
Traore, who currently serves as the rotating president of the AES, recalled the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States on September 16, 2023, and its transformation into the Confederation of Sahel States on July 6, 2024.
He described the anniversary as a symbol of hope for an African renaissance and praised the commitment of the three member states in combating terrorism. He also paid tribute to security personnel killed in operations and expressed condolences to victims of violence.
Highlighting the confederation’s progress, Traore said Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger had strengthened military cooperation in counterterrorism operations, improved diplomatic coordination and advanced efforts towards economic integration.
He said the AES was not aimed at opposing any country or people and reaffirmed that discussions with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would continue to establish a new relationship framework based on respect for sovereign decisions.