Ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) convened in Ouagadougou on November 11-12, 2026, for an extraordinary meeting. The gathering was led by General Célestin Simporé, Minister of State for War and Patriotic Defense of Burkina Faso. Mali was represented by Minister of State Alousséni Sanou, while Niger was represented by General Salifou Mody, Minister of State for National Defense. The meeting aimed to review progress on the AES roadmap adopted in February 2026.
Prior to the ministerial meeting, senior officials from the three pillars of AES – defense and security, diplomacy, and development – held discussions. The meeting began with Burkina Faso and Mali offering condolences to Niger's President Abdourahamane Tiani, who recently lost his father. Ministers expressed satisfaction with progress made in implementing the roadmap and praised the three heads of state – Assimi Goïta, Abdourahamane Tiani, and Ibrahim Traoré – for choosing unity in the face of regional threats.
The ministers acknowledged Guinea's desire to enforce its laws but expressed regret over mass expulsions of African nationals without consultation. The Burkinabé delegation leader thanked Malian authorities for their support in addressing this challenge. The ministers also condemned terrorist attacks that continue to claim victims in the three countries and paid tribute to fallen soldiers, praising the courage of defense and security forces and the resilience of local populations.
Furthermore, the ministers denounced what they termed as repeated interference by the European Union in the internal affairs of African states. They expressed gratitude to Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the current president of the Confederation, for his commitment to building a common space of security, solidarity, and prosperity alongside his counterparts from Mali and Niger.
The AES ministers' meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing security challenges in the Sahel region. The three countries have been working together to strengthen their cooperation in the face of terrorism and other threats. The Ouagadougou meeting demonstrated their commitment to a collaborative approach to addressing these challenges.
In their discussions, the ministers emphasized the importance of a united front in the face of regional threats. They reaffirmed their commitment to the AES roadmap, which aims to promote stability, security, and development in the Sahel region. The meeting's outcome is expected to contribute to the ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation among AES member states.
The extraordinary meeting of AES ministers in Ouagadougou concluded with a renewed commitment to cooperation and a united approach to addressing the challenges facing the Sahel region. The ministers' discussions reflected their determination to build a more secure and prosperous future for their countries and the region as a whole.
Key points
- Ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States met in Ouagadougou to review progress on their second-year roadmap.
- The meeting was led by General Célestin Simporé, Minister of State for War and Patriotic Defense of Burkina Faso.
- Ministers expressed satisfaction with progress made in implementing the roadmap and praised the three heads of state for choosing unity in the face of regional threats.
