Ouagadougou: The foreign ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) convened in Ouagadougou as part of the preparatory work for the upcoming 2nd Summit of Heads of State. Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister, Jean-Marie Traore, initiated the meeting alongside his counterparts from Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, and Niger, Bakary Yaou Sangare.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister Traore welcomed his peers, conveying greetings from President Ibrahim Traore and emphasizing the significance of this meeting in preparing for the AES College of Heads of State summit scheduled for December 22 and 23, 2025, in Bamako. The ministers praised the efforts of experts from the three countries who finalized vital documents concerning the roadmap of the current AES Chairman, General Assimi Gota, focusing on Defense, Diplomacy, and Development.
Since its inception in July 2024, the Confederation has achieved several milestones, including the establishment of the Unified Force of the ESA, the creation of a Confederal Bank for Investment and Development, and the installation of the ESA Parliament. Minister Traore addressed disinformation campaigns aimed at the Confederation, particularly in Mali, and expressed Burkina Faso's solidarity with Mali and Niger against actions supported by terrorist auxiliaries.
Malian Minister Abdoulaye Diop thanked Burkina Faso and Niger for their support during Mali's recent crisis. He highlighted Niger's contribution of fuel tankers escorted by the forces of the three countries and criticized Western media for allegedly promoting terrorist propaganda while neglecting the AES Armed Forces' victories.
On the diplomatic front, the ministers commended the coordination of their diplomatic missions, the enhancement of free movement within the ESA and West Africa, and the integration efforts, including the decision to make the ESA a visa-free area for ECOWAS nationals. Mali expressed disappointment over ECOWAS's lack of response to dialogue initiatives from Bamako on May 22, 2025.
Progress was acknowledged in creating an AES airline, implementing a confederal levy, deploying AES free roaming, coordinating national television stations, and defining the Confederation's visual and sound identity. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Sahelian integration and meeting the people's expectations with ambitious recommendations.
Concluding the event, Minister Diop officially declared the AES foreign ministers' meeting open, signaling continued cooperation and progress within the region.