The heads of the three countries, who came to power through military coups in recent years, "decided to take a further step towards deeper integration between the member states" and "adopted a treaty establishing a federation", according to a joint statement from the summit between the three countries.
The “Federation of Sahel States,” using the acronym AES, would encompass some 72 million people. In January, the three countries announced they would leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an organization they accuse of being manipulated by France, their former colonizer.
Malian troops are greeted by people after the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the capital Bamako, Mali on August 21, 2020. Photo: AP
All three countries have also severed military and defense ties with France and the United States, while seeking greater cooperation with Russia.
"Our people have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS," General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of Niger's military government, said at the opening of the summit.
Relations between Niger and ECOWAS deteriorated following the coup in July 2023, leading ECOWAS to impose sanctions and even threaten military intervention to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The sanctions were lifted in February but relations between the two sides remain frosty. ECOWAS will hold a leaders’ summit on Sunday in Abuja, where relations with AES will be high on the agenda.
In March, the AES countries formed a joint military force to combat jihadist groups that regularly attack their territories.
On Saturday, they also discussed "mutualizing" their approaches to strategic areas such as agriculture , water, energy and transport.
They also demand that indigenous languages be given more prominence in local media.
Bui Huy (according to AFP, CNA)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chinh-quyen-quan-su-burkina-faso-mali-va-niger-ky-hiep-uoc-lien-bang-post302513.html
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