Historic meeting in Niamey

Niamey hosted the first summit of the Alliance for the Sahel, a major event that brought together the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to strengthen regional cooperation.

Niamey, the capital of Niger, is preparing to host a landmark event: the first Nigerien Heads of State Summit.Alliance of Sahel States (AES) It is scheduled for July 6. Founded in September 2023, the group brings together Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, three countries that have distanced themselves from former colonial power France and the West African regional organization ECOWAS.

Revolutionary leaders for Sahel security

Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali, Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso and General Abdourahmane Tiani of Niger will meet for the first time in an official setting. All of these leaders came to power through coups between 2020 and 2023. They share a common vision for the fight against jihadism and regional development. The summit is seen as a historic event. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation and security in the Sahel region.

ECOWAS’s tense geopolitical environment

The summit comes at a time when tensions between the AES and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are reaching their worst point. In early 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger withdrew from ECOWAS. They accused the organization of favoring French interests and not supporting them in the fight against jihadists. Despite calls for dialogue from some regional leaders, such as Senegal’s Basilou Diomaye Faye, divisions remain severe.

Niamey calls on people to mobilize

The Niamey authorities invited the public to give a warm welcome to the “leaders of the revolution”. They wanted to emphasize the importance of the first summit. The city hopes to inject momentum into the young organization through the strong support of the people. It highlights the unity of the three countries in their common struggle for security and development.

Reconciliation with ECOWAS?

While the AES is meeting in Niamey, ECOWAS is set to hold a summit the following day in Abuja, Nigeria. The organization, which is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary, is going through a period of crisis. It is struggling to build an operational counter-terrorism force and deal with various economic challenges. The situation is further complicated by internal disagreements over how to handle the separation issue with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.