The military regimes of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formalized their alliance into a “confederation” during their first summit in Niamey, solidifying their break from the rest of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In a joint statement on Saturday, the three nations announced that their military leaders had “decided to take an additional step towards deeper integration among the member states.
To this end, they adopted a treaty establishing a Confederation of Sahel States between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.”
The countries ruled out any return to the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, whose potential division could jeopardize regional efforts to end coups and curb widespread violence.
The declaration from the military leaders came during their inaugural summit in Niamey, Niger’s capital, following their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January.
They accused the bloc of failing its mandate and pledged to strengthen their union—Sahel States Alliance—established last year amid strained relations with neighboring countries.
Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, criticized ECOWAS, founded nearly 50 years ago, as a “threat to our countries.”
He added, “We will establish a system for the people as an alternative to ECOWAS, which is directed and instructed by forces foreign to Africa.”
The summit of the three neighboring countries precedes an ECOWAS summit in Nigeria, where other regional heads of state are set to meet.
Analysts suggest these concurrent meetings highlight the deepening divide within ECOWAS, which had emerged as the top political authority for its 15 member states before the unprecedented withdrawal of the three nations.
Karim Manuel, a Middle East and Africa analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, noted that despite ECOWAS’s efforts to maintain unity, the alliance of the three military-led states will likely remain outside the regional bloc amid escalating tensions.
He added, “Mediation attempts are likely to continue, particularly led by the new administration in Senegal, but they will not bear fruit anytime soon.”
Formed last September, the Sahel States Alliance aims to seek new partnerships with countries such as Russia and to bolster their independence from former colonial ruler France, which the alliance has accused of interfering in ECOWAS affairs.
