Ouagadougou: The meeting of ministers in charge of territorial administration of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), dedicated to cross-border cooperation, ended Wednesday in Ouagadougou with the signing of two legal texts intended to facilitate operational cooperation between the authorities of the cross-border regions of the AES.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the first document is the draft additional protocol to the treaty establishing the ESA, relating to cross-border cooperation. Comprising 27 articles, it has been signed by the competent authorities of the three countries and will be submitted to the confederated states for ratification, a step which will mark its entry into force.
The second is the draft decision establishing a cross-border consultation framework between the administrative authorities of the border regions of the EAS. Comprising 10 articles, it will be submitted for signature to the President of the Confederation, Captain Ibrahim Traore, following the signing of the additional protocol.
During the meeting, the first session of the consultation framework for governors of border regions was co-chaired by the governor of the Kadiogo region of Burkina Faso, Abdoulaye Bassinga, the governor of the Gao region of Mali, Major General Moussa Traore, and the governor of the Tahoua region of Niger, Colonel-Major Souleymane Moussa Amadou.
The governors reviewed and approved the 2026-2027 roadmap for the cross-border consultation framework. They identified five operational cross-border zones and planned nine priority activities for 2026 and five for 2027, including the development and implementation of operational action plans for each zone.
In his closing remarks, the Minister of Territorial Administration of Burkina Faso, Emile Zerbo, praised the work carried out "with rigor," reflecting "a common vision" of the three brotherly peoples, united by history and geography and determined to make their border areas poles of security and prosperity.
He congratulated the amendment committee and all the experts from the three states for their "consensual work."
The minister reiterated the determination of the three states to make the Confederation "a space of asserted sovereignty, shared security and integrated development," before thanking the delegations from Mali and Niger for their active participation.
The proceedings also concluded with the adoption of a press release, a summary of conclusions, and a special motion of thanks addressed to the President of Faso, the current President of the Confederation, Captain Ibrahim Traore.