An image shared with the post shows a map of Africa and the military rulers of Burkina Faso and Mali, with the caption: “A new country.”
The report calls it a “merger,” adding that “this journey of unification, which began with the expulsion of former colonial France and its ilk, ultimately united these countries in the Sahel region into a confederation.”
It continues: “Accordingly, the merged state, to be named the ‘Confederation of Sahelian States/AES’, will have a common constitution, a common currency, a common defence force, a common embassy and a common passport.”
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ECOWAS precipitation
The governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were overthrown by military coups in 2020, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
In turn, ECOWAS suspended each of the new regimes in the regional bloc and imposed strict sanctions on Niger and Mali (archived here).
Amid deteriorating relations, the three countries have intake by ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the group of being ineffective in combating the jihadist insurgency in the region and of being manipulated by former colonial power France (archived here).
A month later, the regime’s leaders reiterated their intention to alternative to ECOWAS to be known as the Alliance of Sahelian States, or AES (archived here).
At a founding meeting in July, they signed a charter setting out the framework for the new alliance.
However, reports describing this moment as a “merger” are incorrect.
No unification arrangement
The military leaders of the AES officially a treaty signed on July 6, 2024, during their first summit in the Nigerien capital Niamey (archived here).
Using a search term in French, AFP Fact Check found a copy of the AES Charter published by RTB, a state broadcaster in Burkina Faso (archived here).
The charter was signed by the leaders of the founding countries: Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, Assimi Goita of Mali and Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger.
AFP Fact Check examined the 10-page document and found that there is no mention of the creation of a merged state with one constitution and passport.
“The Confederation is based on the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” reads Article 3 of the Charter.
Similarly, Article 4 provides that the three states will cooperate in the areas of defense and security, diplomacy and development, while “maintaining their independence and sovereignty”.
There is also nothing in the treaty about a common currency, although the idea has been floated before. conversations and is a possibility in the future (archived here).
The Charter obliges Member States to cooperate as regional partners in areas such as security and trade.
“The Confederation States shall cooperate in economic and financial progress with a view to carrying out structuring investments,” the charter stipulates.
Mali will lead the AES for the first year.
