When you hear Alliance of Sahel States, a military-led political bloc formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to reject Western influence and assert regional autonomy. Also known as AESS, it’s not just another regional pact—it’s a direct challenge to decades of French and international involvement in West Africa. This group emerged after coups in each country, where military leaders took power and quickly aligned to form a united front. They pulled out of ECOWAS, cut diplomatic ties with former colonial powers, and began building their own defense and economic networks. The Alliance isn’t trying to be a democracy—it’s a response to what its members see as failed governance, foreign interference, and unmet security needs.
The Sahel region, a semi-arid belt stretching across Africa just south of the Sahara, home to fragile states and rising extremism is where this alliance plays out. With jihadist groups active from northern Mali to the Niger border, local governments have lost trust in international peacekeeping missions. The Alliance of Sahel States claims it can deliver security better than France’s Operation Barkhane ever did. They’ve turned to Russia for training and equipment, and opened ties with Turkey and Iran. Meanwhile, countries like Nigeria and Ghana, still part of ECOWAS, watch nervously as the bloc grows more isolated—and more defiant.
The military junta, a government led by armed forces after seizing power, often suspending constitutions and elections is the engine behind the Alliance. Each member country is ruled by a junta: Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goïta, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani. These aren’t temporary caretakers—they’ve extended their rule, suppressed dissent, and rewritten national narratives to justify their hold on power. Their unity isn’t based on shared ideology alone—it’s built on survival. They know if one falls, the others could be next. That’s why they’ve pooled resources, shared intelligence, and even coordinated border patrols.
What does this mean for the rest of Africa? The Alliance of Sahel States is becoming a model for other militaries tired of foreign oversight. It’s not just about weapons or borders—it’s about sovereignty. And while Western nations call it a threat, many locals in the region see it as long overdue. You’ll find posts here covering their military moves, their break from international aid, their shifting alliances, and how ordinary people are caught in the middle. This isn’t just politics. It’s a rewriting of power in West Africa.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, ending a year-long withdrawal process. Their military-led alliance cites foreign influence and lack of support against terrorism, threatening regional stability and food security for 17 million malnourished children.
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