Ministers of AES Countries Commend Progress of Confederation

The ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened in Ouagadougou on November 11-12 to evaluate the implementation of the second-year roadmap of the Confederation of Sahel States. The meeting, an extraordinary council of ministers, aimed to review the progress made in the three pillars of the Confederation: defense and security, diplomacy, and development. The council was briefed on the significant advancements made in implementing the roadmap adopted in February 2026.

The ministers praised the vision and leadership of the three heads of state: General Assimi Goïta of Mali, General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger, and Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso. They commended the countries for showing solidarity in the face of a mass return of their nationals expelled from Guinea. The Guinean region of Siguiri had banned artisanal gold mining, forcing tens of thousands of foreign miners, mostly Burkinabè and Malians, to leave.

The Confederation demonstrated its strength by responding effectively to the crisis. Mali welcomed many of the expelled miners and organized the transit of Burkinabè nationals back to their country. The Burkinabè delegation expressed gratitude to the Malian authorities for their assistance. However, the ministers also regretted the massive and non-consultative nature of the expulsions, while acknowledging the need to respect the law.

The ministers paid tribute to the soldiers who have fallen and praised the sacrifice of the defense and security forces of the three countries. They also acknowledged the resilience of the populations and reiterated their condemnation of terrorist attacks that continue to affect the confederal space. Furthermore, they denounced the persistent acts of interference by the European Union in the internal affairs of African states.

The council was presided over by Burkina Faso, which currently holds the presidency of the Confederation. The Malian delegation was led by Minister of State and Minister of Economy and Finance Alousséni Sanou, while the Nigerien delegation was headed by Minister of State and Minister of National Defense General Salifou Mody.

The ministers addressed a special motion of thanks to Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the current president of the Confederation, for his commitment to building a space of security, solidarity, and shared prosperity. Their conclusions will now inform the work of the next College of Heads of State. Prior to the meeting, the Burkinabè and Malian delegations renewed their condolences to General Abdourahamane Tiani following the death of his father in early November.

The meeting demonstrated the commitment of the AES countries to deepen their cooperation and address common challenges. The Confederation of Sahel States was established to promote economic, security, and cultural cooperation among its member states. The next step will be a summit of the heads of state, which will build on the progress and recommendations made during the ministerial meeting.

Key points

• The ministers commended the significant progress made in implementing the second-year roadmap of the Confederation of Sahel States.
• The AES countries demonstrated solidarity in responding to the mass return of their nationals expelled from Guinea.
• The ministers condemned terrorist attacks and acts of interference by the European Union in the internal affairs of African states.